Title: Technical Adviser – National Nuclear Security Administration, Department of Energy
Company: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Location: Walnut Creek, California, United States
Young S. Ham, technical adviser of the National Nuclear Security Administration and the Department of Energy at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Scientists for dedication, achievements, and leadership in nuclear science.
With over 25 years of experience to his credit, Dr. Ham has excelled in the field of nuclear science. Currently a research scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory since 2004, he has played a pivotal role in various nuclear safeguard projects. In this role, he deals with all nuclear issues and policies, particularly technical issues, and serves as the principal investigator for nuclear safeguard projects from the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Prior to this position, he was active as a technical adviser to the NNSA and the Department Of Energy at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory from 2020 to 2023. He also served as a project leader at Lawrence Livermore from 2017 to 2020 and as a research scientist and associate program leader for nuclear safeguards from 2004 to 2018. Additionally, he was a visiting professor at the University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates from 2016 to 2017. Previously, he served as a unit head and nuclear systems engineer at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Austria from 1998 to 2004. Before embarking on his professional path, he pursued an education at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and Virginia Tech, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in nuclear science. He continued his academic efforts at North Carolina State University, where he earned a PhD in nuclear engineering in 1993.
Beyond his responsibilities within the field, Dr. Ham has co-authored significant publications, including “Methodology and Software for Gross Defect Detection of Spent Nuclear Fuel at the Atucha-I Reactor” in Nuclear Technology and “A Novel Approach to Detect Partial Defects in Pressurized Water Reactor Spent Fuel” in Nuclear Technology. He holds patents for innovations such as detecting pin diversion from pressurized water reactor spent assemblies, high-efficiency 3D nanostructures neutron detectors and a model for determining both the density and atomic number of a material composition using Compton scattering. In light of his impressive undertakings, he was recognized with a certificate of appreciation from the NNSA Assistant Deputy Administrator in 2023.
Dr. Ham attributes his success to his adeptness at tackling small problems and systematically addressing existing issues and credits his transition into nuclear science as a crucial moment in his career, driven by his nuanced perspective on nuclear energy and its potential as a potent energy source. Looking ahead, he aspires to continue his work in spearheading a highly significant project focused on nuclear non-proliferation. His advice for aspiring professionals is to embrace opportunities and leverage them to achieve success, emphasizing the importance of systematically addressing technical challenges to drive progress in the field.
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