FORT DRUM, N.Y. (Aug. 26, 2026) -- The Department of the Army announced today that Fort Drum was among five installations selected to host a microreactor, with the contract awarded to Westinghouse Government Services.
The Janus Program is the Army’s next-generation nuclear power program designed to provide a secure and reliable energy source on military installations, ensuring critical defense operations remain secure and uninterrupted under any conditions.
“Fort Drum is the Army’s premier power-projection platform in the Northeast, and that makes us the right location for a Janus Program microreactor,” said Maj. Gen. Scott Naumann, 10th Mountain Division (LI) and Fort Drum commander. “Readiness demands reliable power today, tomorrow, and in every contingency. The Janus microreactor initiative provides the resilient energy foundation our Soldiers need to remain ready whenever the nation calls.”
Brandon Cockrell, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Energy and Sustainability, said that site selections were determined by mission requirements, power demand, grid maturity, and safety and environmental considerations, among the criteria.
“It just became a natural fit,” he said. “It is really difficult to look across the five (installations) and not draw the immediate conclusion that this is a direct link to power projection. That was a critical aspect that we looked at because we have to be able to project power. We have to be able to meet the Army’s mission if there are any vulnerabilities in the grid.”
The planned microreactors are compact, advanced nuclear power systems that will generate under 20 megawatts (MWe) of electricity and occupy less than five acres of land. They are designed for localized resiliency of critical mission infrastructure and can integrate into the existing commercial grid without disrupting current land use.
Safety features include passive, built-in systems capable of a safe, automatic shutdown in the event of an emergency, requiring no manual operator action or external backup power.
Furthermore, the Army has stated that spent nuclear fuel will not be stored permanently on post. Used fuel and activated materials will remain on-site only for a brief, federally mandated cooldown period before being transported to designated Department of Energy or National Laboratory facilities for long-term storage or recycling.
Unlike traditional government-owned utility systems, the microreactors are entirely owned, constructed and operated by the selected nuclear energy vendors. The benefits of the contractor-owned and operated model are threefold:
It ensures the highest levels of safety and operational expertise by keeping the daily management of these highly specialized facilities in the hands of the certified industry experts who design them.
Similar to NASA’s approach for commercial spaceflight, this model protects taxpayer dollars by sharing development costs and shifting financial risks to the private sector, as vendors must meet strict performance-based milestones to receive funding.
While the facilities are contractor-operated, the Army and federal regulators retain strict oversight. The awardees must comply with stringent, non-negotiable War Department security protocols and federal safety regulations.
“Everything that we do – from communications to radar – requires constant energy,” said Dr. Jeff Waksman, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment. “And when you think about where things are going in the future with drones and energy weapons, there’s just more demand for electricity.”
The selected Army installations represent only the first tranche chosen for this initial phase of the Janus Program, which is aimed at meeting federal energy mandates outlined in Executive Order 14299.
The program is funded for a five-year period and officials said there is a target date of Sept. 30, 2028, to have at least one microreactor capable of producing useable electricity on an Army installation.
“The Army is leading the nation in its return to nuclear preeminence via the Janus Program,” said Jason Craft, Army Nuclear Energy Office and Janus Program Director. “Our selected industry awardees represent the most viable technologies to achieve this capability, setting conditions for both installation energy resilience and operational energy solutions.”
An earlier initiative to design, build and deploy a mobile microreactor, called Project Pele, demonstrated the feasibility of next-generation nuclear technologies for operational energy resilience.
“The Janus Program is grabbing the baton from Project Pele and the DOE’s Reactor Pilot Program,” Waksman said. “We are seeking not just reactors capable of turning on for a brief demonstration, but rather systems able to deliver power with high-capacity factors for years of operation.”
Naumann said Fort Drum and the 10th Mountain Division have long distinguished themselves by integrating new capabilities in ways that directly support readiness. “Our culture is built on purposeful adaptation and a readiness-driven mindset, and we are the right team to lead this energy resilience effort for the Army,” he said. “Energy independence does not mean operating alone, and our commitment to the North Country remains constant. We will keep our neighbors informed and engaged throughout planning, construction, and operations to ensure this initiative strengthens readiness while honoring our partnership with the community.”