U.S. military installations face a critical vulnerability that too few Americans recognize: Our bases, at home and abroad, are tethered to fragile power systems that are increasingly unreliable and dangerously exposed to threats. From domestic grid failures and cyberattacks to severe weather events and fuel logistics nightmares, the ability of the U.S. military to operate effectively is being compromised by an energy infrastructure built for a different era. The solution is already here: advanced nuclear technology.

In an age of near-peer competition and intensifying climate stress, energy is no longer a background function. It is a battlefield enabler. Without reliable, resilient power, our armed forces cannot project strength, maintain readiness, or respond to crises. The Department of Defense must embrace microreactor nuclear energy as the cornerstone of its energy future — and it must do so with urgency.

Fragile grids, rising risks

Recent blackouts at Naval Station Norfolk, Va., and Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif., have exposed the real-world consequences of fragile infrastructure. These weren’t hypothetical scenarios. These were national security installations — the first lines of defense — left in the dark. In Texas, the devastating Winter Storm Uri in 2021 didn’t just cut off homes and businesses — it put Fort Hood and other critical military assets at risk. Extreme weather is increasing in frequency and severity. Our defense systems cannot afford to be one storm away from shutdown.

Cyberattacks, too, are growing more sophisticated and frequent. U.S. adversaries are probing grid vulnerabilities, and domestic military bases dependent on civilian energy systems are tempting targets. Diesel generators — long a fallback — come with their own liabilities. They require constant refueling, complex logistics chains, and access routes that may be contested or impassable in crises. Solar and wind, while valuable for sustainability goals, are intermittent and ill-suited to serve as primary baseload power in mission-critical environments.

This is where nuclear shines. Advanced microreactors offer constant, clean, weather-proof power that can operate independently of civilian grids. These small, modular systems are capable of providing scalable, site-specific energy tailored to the demands of each installation.

A proven solution — ready for deployment

The Department of Defense has already begun to recognize this reality. The landmark Oklo-Eielson Air Force Base project in Alaska represents the first deployment of a commercial microreactor on a U.S. military base. Built to deliver up to 15 MW of thermal energy (or 1–5 MWe), Oklo’s Aurora reactor is expected to provide clean, uninterrupted energy for decades, dramatically reducing reliance on diesel and enhancing operational autonomy in one of the most extreme environments on Earth.

This is not an isolated pilot — it is a template. The Defense Innovation Unit is supporting additional projects to assess and scale modular nuclear systems across branches and geographies. These early efforts are promising, but they must be accelerated and expanded into a comprehensive national strategy.

The military is no stranger to nuclear energy. The U.S. Navy has operated nuclear-powered ships for more than 70 years without a single reactor accident. Submarines and aircraft carriers run on nuclear energy every day in the harshest, most unpredictable environments imaginable. That institutional experience — the training, the safety protocols, the culture of accountability — is an asset that no civilian agency can match.

Under President Donald Trump’s executive order to promote small modular reactors for national defense and space applications, the federal government committed to accelerating deployment. The Biden administration has echoed this urgency through investments in energy resilience and innovation. There is now bipartisan alignment: energy independence and national security are inseparable.

Economic renewal through military investment

The benefits of military-led nuclear deployment are not limited to operational readiness — they extend into the broader U.S. economy. Nuclear power supports more than 475,000 American jobs and contributes over $12 billion annually in tax revenue. Every 100 jobs at a nuclear facility generate 66 more in the surrounding community — supporting electricians, welders, security personnel, engineers and operators.

Military installations, often located in rural or economically stagnant areas, are uniquely positioned to drive local revitalization through energy infrastructure. Nuclear reactors provide not only stable power, but also long-term employment and workforce development. This is a model for sustainable growth that aligns national security needs with economic opportunity.

And critically, microreactors support the Pentagon’s climate commitments. By displacing diesel and supplementing intermittent renewables, they help the military achieve its net-zero emissions goals by 2050 — without compromising readiness.

Addressing the real concerns — directly

Critics of military nuclear deployment raise valid questions. What about safety? Security? Proliferation? These are not trivial issues — but they are solvable, and they pale in comparison to the vulnerabilities of the status quo.

Modern advanced reactors incorporate passive safety features that allow them to shut down automatically without external power or human intervention. Fuel types like TRISO are meltdown-proof and can endure extreme temperatures and conditions. These aren’t theoretical claims — they are supported by years of research, testing and demonstration.

Security protocols are not starting from scratch. The Navy’s nuclear safety and security program is among the most rigorous in the world. Those procedures — covering access control, reactor handling, fuel transport, and personnel clearance — can be adapted and extended to support domestic base operations. Additionally, the military already employs a specialized nuclear workforce with clearances and competencies unmatched in the civilian sector.

The greater risk is in doing nothing — leaving U.S. installations dependent on aging grids, exposed to foreign sabotage, and at the mercy of weather or fuel shortages.

A global competitive edge

There’s also a strategic urgency to lead in this domain. China and Russia are aggressively developing advanced nuclear technologies — not only for domestic use, but as tools of geopolitical influence. Russia, through Rosatom, has leveraged nuclear exports to deepen dependence across Eastern Europe and Central Asia. China is doing the same across Africa and Southeast Asia.

If the U.S. fails to scale its domestic nuclear capabilities, it will fall behind — not only in energy resilience, but in technological prestige and diplomatic leverage. A military-led microreactor program would strengthen American companies, drive innovation, and position the U.S. as the global standard bearer in safe, deployable, next-generation nuclear power.

This begins with investment in fuel. The U.S. must reestablish its own enrichment capabilities and supply chains to reduce dependence on foreign sources, particularly Russian uranium. The DOE’s initiatives to expand high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) production must be fully funded and synchronized with defense needs.

Internationally, the U.S. can work with NATO allies and Indo-Pacific partners to deploy American nuclear systems at shared bases and cooperative sites. These efforts would reinforce alliance cohesion, reduce host-nation grid dependence, and counter adversary narratives of Western decline.

A strategic energy doctrine

The Department of Defense needs a strategic energy doctrine fit for 21st-century warfare — one that treats energy not as a utility bill, but as an operational domain. Microreactors must be a centerpiece of that vision. They enable remote bases to function autonomously. They support high-demand operations like directed-energy weapons, advanced radar, and AI-driven systems. They decouple U.S. military power from vulnerable infrastructure and volatile supply chains.

The success of the Oklo-Eielson model proves the feasibility. The next step is full-scale rollout: from Camp Lejeune, N.C., to Guam, from Fort Carson, Colo., to forward-deployed Navy bases. Regulatory frameworks must be streamlined. Deployment timelines must be shortened. Pilot projects must become procurement programs.

This is not a matter of ideological preference — it is a matter of strategic prudence.

Conclusion: Time to move

America’s defense posture depends on reliable power. Every system, sensor and mission is tethered to electricity. In today’s environment, fragile grids and diesel convoys are liabilities we can no longer afford.

Advanced nuclear reactors offer a path forward — clean, compact and combat-ready. They represent the convergence of American technological ingenuity, operational necessity and strategic foresight.

We’ve tested the concept. We’ve demonstrated the value. Now we must act — before our adversaries define the future of this technology for us.

Joe Buccino is a retired U.S. Army colonel. He served as the communications director for U.S. Central Command from April 2021 to July 2023.