Jason Pruet

Jason Pruet is a physicist and technology leader with more than two decades of experience in science, national security, and public service. His career spans research and leadership roles across national laboratories and government agencies, where he has focused on advancing science and technology in support of national and global needs. He holds a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of California, San Diego, where his early academic work explored astrophysics and nucleosynthesis. His lifelong interest in understanding complex physical systems has guided his journey through research, national service, and technology leadership.

He earned his doctorate under George Fuller, a Nobel laureate and Willy Fowler's student. His dissertation examined the physics of gamma-ray bursts, studying the role of weak processes in their engines and fireballs. His early research deepened the understanding of how extreme environments in the universe shape the production of heavy elements. After completing his Ph.D., he joined Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) as a postdoctoral researcher through a SciDAC Supernova grant. He later became the group leader for computational nuclear physics, where he contributed to national security missions including stockpile stewardship, atomic detection technologies, and forensic attribution.

In 2011, he transitioned to federal service in Washington, D.C., joining the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). He managed large-scale programs such as the Primary Assessment Campaign and the Physics and Engineering Models Campaign there. He also helped create the Capabilities for Nuclear Intelligence program, designed to bring the expertise of the national laboratories to support intelligence missions. Two years later, he became Chief of an intelligence branch within the DOE Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence. His team focused on assessing foreign nuclear weapons programs, and his leadership was recognized with awards from the Secretary of Energy and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

After nearly a decade in public service, Jason moved to Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), where he led the Advanced Simulation and Computing (ASC) program. This program maintained the reliability and safety of the U.S. nuclear stockpile without underground testing. Collaborating with leaders such as Brian Spears, Kevin Dixon, and Rick Stevens, he helped establish a national effort to advance artificial intelligence for Science, Energy, and Security. At LANL, he became the founding director of the National Security AI Office, which was created to address AI's growing importance and challenges in national missions.

In 2025, Jason Pruet from OpenAI became a full-time member of the company’s technical staff. He serves on the Mission Alignment team, contributing to scientific, philanthropic, and national security initiatives. His role supports OpenAI’s mission of developing artificial intelligence in a way that benefits humanity, working closely with researchers, policymakers, and nonprofit partners to ensure technology serves broader societal needs.

Throughout his career, Jason Pruet has authored and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed papers and technical reports, including studies on nucleosynthesis in gamma-ray burst accretion disks, methods for detecting clandestine nuclear materials, and the use of high-performance computing in nuclear security. His career reflects a deep commitment to applying science responsibly—advancing innovation while safeguarding its impact on society.