Dodd Directives

DOD Directive 3150.2 DOD Nuclear Weapon System Safety Program, contains provisions to ensure the surety of nuclear weapons and serves as the foundation for all nuclear weapon safety. This directive defines four nuclear weapon safety standards:

• There shall be positive measures to prevent nuclear weapons involved in accidents or incidents, or jettisoned weapons, from producing a nuclear yield.

• There shall be positive measures to prevent DELIBERATE pre-arming, arming, launching, or releasing of nuclear weapons, except upon execution of emergency war orders or when directed by competent authority.

• There shall be positive measures to prevent INADVERTENT pre-arming, arming, launching, or releasing of nuclear weapons in all normal and credible abnormal environments.

• There shall be positive measures to ensure adequate security of nuclear weapons, under DOD Directive 5210.41.

What does that mean?

Positive measures are design features, safety rules, procedures, accident prevention or mitigation measures, or other controls including physical security and coded systems, used collectively or individually, to enhance safety and reduce the likelihood severity, or consequences of an accident unauthorized act, or deliberate threat. In short, they must remain safe secure and reliable enough so that can’t be used unintended yet ready and effective enough to be used when called upon.

DOD Directive 5210.42, DOD Personnel Reliability Program (PRP)

Nuclear weapon operations are highly dependent on personnel to successfully perform the mission. Without them, the mission risks failure. Only the best and most trustworthy are allowed to perform nuclear weapon tasks. Even those found to meet the high standards of the PRP arc continuously monitored and evaluated to ensure their continued reliability and qualification to keep this trust. The PRP is a vital supporting program that enhances the protection and safety of the nations' nuclear weapons

The PRP...