The biggest role of nuclear weapons is deterrence, and I know at the Nuclear Weapons Center
we are making sure we maintain a safe, secure, and effective nuclear arsenal for the country.
My name is Ramona Diaz
I work as an electrical engineer at the Air Force Nuclear Weapon Center at Kirtland Air Force base
in Albuquerque, New Mexico
I came to the Nuclear Weapons Center through the SMART Fellowship through the Department of Defense. They offered to pay for my grad school
and I've been here for three years now. Through the SMART program when you apply with the scholarship any Department of Defense
organization can view your resume and I wrote in my
application that I wanted to work with weapons.
I was selected by the Nuclear Weapons Center as an electrical engineer for the Nuclear Weapons Center.
I work with modeling and simulation of nuclear effects on aircraft.  The mission planners the operators they use this information
And it's important that we can provide accurate representation of our nuclear weapon capabilities
We want to make sure that the aircraft delivering any weapons and the pilot, that they make it home safely
Knowing that pilots and other airmen across the Air Force rely on the information
that we provide it makes me feel proud
I'm really happy and the things that we do and I feel like I'm still able to support the warfighter and
overall support and protect the Country.
I am happy working with the Nuclear Weapons Center. I've been able to travel the world and interface with
international partners. I travel about twice a month and it's an eye-opening experience
and I know a lot of people join the military to travel the world, but you can do that as a civilian too.
Work-life balance is definitely part of the satisfaction that I feel in working at the Nuclear Weapons Center
I'm able to work a normal 40-hour week
And then I can have the time afterwards to work out to hang out friends
There are many facilities on base that we can go to after work. The bowling alley my co-workers
And I go there all the time probably once a week to just have fun and relax after a long day of work
We also have the gym where we can just work out and burn some extra energy and and be healthy and fit
I have such a sense of pride for our country 
and I am so excited and thrilled with the
opportunities that I have here that I know working for the government and for the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center is for me
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