Research interests

Frank leads, advises, and supports several efforts in nuclear security, including insider threat mitigation, nuclear forensics, nuclear detection, radioactive material security, WMD attribution, and the nexus of cyber and nuclear security. He leads and creates scenario-based policy discussions (SBPDs) that have engaged world leaders, ministers, and action officers on a wide range of nuclear security topics. For the 2016 Nuclear Security Summit, he created an SBPD for President Obama and world leaders. In 2020 and 2016, he led the development and execution of an SPBD for ministers attending the IAEA International Conference on Nuclear Security that focused on implementation of the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material. In 2019, Frank created and led an SBPD for the International Symposium on Insider Threat Mitigation that showcased topics to be explored further during the symposium.

Career path

2014–2016: Director for Nuclear Defense Policy, National Security Council, The White House

2012–2014 and 2016–2018: Senior Technical Advisor, Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO), Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

2007–2012: US-Japan Coordinator for the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership, DOE Office of Nuclear Energy

2007–2012: DOE Liaison, National Technical Nuclear Forensics Center, DNDO/DHS

Prior to LLNL: Radioactive waste disposal, nuclear fusion engineering, International Thermonuclear Experiment Reactor (ITER) – US secondee

Subject Matter Expertise

• National Security
• Eleven Nuclear Security Joint Statements (IAEA Information Circulars) from 2016 Nuclear Security Summit
• WMD Attribution Processes
• Fusion Energy (magnetic confinement)
• Materials Failure Analyses
• Finite Element Analyses
• Fracture Mechanics (including Cryogenic)
• Metallurgy and Microstructure

Ph.D., Nuclear Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1990

M.S., Nuclear Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1984

B.S., Nuclear Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1984

Selected publications

Smith, D.K., Wong, F.M.G et al, “The nuclear forensics international technical working group: over a quarter century of cooperation strengthening the security of nuclear and other radioactive materials,” Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 2023.

Wong, F.M.G., Hinton, T., Smith, D.K., “Overview of Nuclear Forensics in Support of Investigations,” Proceedings of IAEA International Conference on Advances in Nuclear Forensics: Countering the Evolving Threat of Nuclear and Other Radioactive Material out of Regulatory Control, July 2014.

Borgardt, J. and Wong, F.M.G., “Galaxy Serpent: A Web-based Table Top Exercise Using the Concept of National Nuclear Forensics Libraries,” Journal of Nuclear Materials Management, Summer 2014.

Wong, F., Punshon, C., Dorsch, T. et al., “Reduced Pressure Electron Beam Welding Evaluation Activities on a Ni-Cr-Mo Alloy for Nuclear Waste Packages, Proceedings of Global 2003, Atoms for Prosperity: Updating Eisenhower’s Global Vision for Nuclear Energy, American Nuclear Society, New Orleans, LA, USA, November 2003.

Wong, F.M.G., Stockman, C., Mertz, C., et al, “Colloids-Associated Concentrations Model and Experimental Studies for a Waste Form Degradation Process Model,” Proceedings of the International Symposium NUCEF 2001: Scientific Bases for Criticality Safety, Separation Process, and Waste Disposal (October 31 – November 2, 2001), Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI), JAERI-Conf 2002-004, March 2002.

Wong, F.M.G., Mitchell, N.A., et al, “Characterization of Incoloy 908 and Avoidance of Stress Accelerated Grain Boundary Oxidation (SAGBO) During ITER Model Coil Fabrication,” Proceedings of ANS 13th Topical Meeting on the Technology of Fusion Energy, Nashville, TN, USA, June 1998, Invited Paper.

Wong, F.M.G., Mitchell, N.A., "Selection of Tokamak Toroidal Field Coil Structural Materials," Advances in Cryogenic Engineering Materials, Vol. 44, Plenum Press, 1998.

Wong, F.M.G., Mitchell, N.A., et al, "Residual Stresses in Superconducting Jackets After Compaction," Proceedings of the 16 ICEC/ICMC, Kitakyushu, Japan, May 1996.

Wong, F.M.G., “Compliance Analysis and Geometry Effects on R-Curve Behavior of a Carbon-Fiber Reinforced Composite,” Research Report, Mechanical Engineering Research Laboratory, Hitachi Ltd., November 1992.

Wong, F.M.G., “A Simple Fiber Bridging Model for R-Curve Analyses of a Carbon-Fiber Reinforced Composite,” Research Report, Mechanical Engineering Research Laboratory, Hitachi Ltd., September 1992.

Wong, F.M.G. and Sakurai, S., "A Comparison of Fracture Toughness For Carbon-Based Fusion Armor Materials Using An R-Curve Approach," Proceedings of the 1992 Annual Meeting of the JSME/MMD (Japanese Society of Mechanical Engineers / Materials and Mechanics Division), No. 920-72, September 1992, Sapporo, Japan.

Wong, F.M.G., Fatigue, Fracture, and Life Prediction Criteria for Composite Materials in Magnets, MIT Plasma Fusion Center Report, PFC/RR-90-10, DOE/ET-51013-285, June 1990.

Wong, F.M.G., Craft, W.L., and East, G.H., "Stresses and Displacements in Vessels Due to Loads Imposed by Single and Multiple Attachments," ASME Journal of Pressure Vessel Technology, February 1985.

Patents

Farmer, J., Wong, F. et al, “Compositions of Corrosion-resistant Fe-Based Amorphous Metals Suitable for Producing Thermal Spray Coatings,” United States Patent No. 8,524,053 B2, (2013)

Blue, C.A., Wong, F. et al, “In-Situ Composite Formation of Damage Tolerant Coatings Utilizing Laser,” United States Patent No. 7,939,142 B2, (2011).

• 2018 US Department of State Certificate of Appreciation (highest recognition bestowed on non-State Dept employees): “Through his tireless efforts, wealth of knowledge, and ability to explain highly technical concepts to policy and decision-makers from our government and others…”
• 2014 DHS/DNDO Director’s Team Award for excellence and international leadership in development of new IAEA Implementing Guidance documents in Nuclear Forensics
• 2012 R&D 100 Award, co-recipient, for NanoSHIELD (Super Hard Inexpensive Laser Deposited) Coatings that can extend the life of disc cutters for tunnel boring machines by at least 20 percent, potentially saving millions of dollars over the course of a construction project
• 2010 DHS/DNDO Director’s Team Award for vision and leadership for the National Strategic Five-Year Plan to Improve the Nuclear Forensics and Attribution Capabilities of the United States signed by President Obama on April 28, 2010
• 2009 DHS/DNDO Director’s Team Award for leadership and innovative execution of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, 2009 Summer Hard Problem (SHARP) Attribution session, Transforming Nuclear Attribution: Culture, Community, and Change