engineering. safety. education. leadership. culture. martial arts.
martial arts? absolutely.
For decades, Mr. Zinedine has conducted extensive field research on the design, construction, and implementation of physical security-by-design systems, as well as the impact of leadership and culture on nuclear safety and security. He has developed this expertise while managing large security organizations at both research-based and power reactors.
In his new role as a distinguished researcher in nuclear and radiological risk management science, Zinedine provides expert support to ORNL's nuclear energy security mission within the National Security Sciences Directorate. His work includes research on physical security through facility design, physical security systems, and technological innovations. He analyzes threats, vulnerabilities, and risks while providing insider threat mitigation, organizational development, education, and training.
A disciplined and motivated researcher who is “enthusiastic to learn new things and try new things,” Zinedine's passion is “to constantly inspire and empower people to understand science and engineering.” ''Growing up in Damascus, Syria, he studied in the United States from an early age. I wanted to become an American citizen and build a life that would make a positive difference in the world.
Early intense interest and eventual mastery
Fascinated by Bruce Lee's heroic deeds, Jackie Chan's comical physicality, and later Jet Li's acrobatics, Zinedine was fascinated by Bruce Lee's heroic deeds, Jackie Chan's comical physicality, and later Jet Li's acrobatics. He came to understand how to subdue a large enemy. This interest inspired him, and over the course of over 40 years of intense study of martial arts, he earned his 4th degree black belt.
His interest in engineering then developed in a similar way through his admiration for architecture and his desire to understand “how great structures are analyzed, designed, and constructed.” Again, this early but strong interest led Zinedine to pursue a disciplined and comprehensive approach to learning. He worked as an undergraduate in the Materials Laboratory at Penn State University, where he researched the characterization of concrete and cementitious materials.
“I began my undergraduate research by designing, manufacturing, and building experiments and prototypes for material characterization of force protection and security systems against military attacks and accidental explosions,” Zinedine said. “I continued my research with support from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and earned a master’s degree to conduct research on how to better design and harden critical infrastructure against terrorist attacks, accidental attacks, and man-made attacks. I was continuing this research when I got it.”
Over time, keeping people and places safe became Zinedine's core mission. In writing his master's thesis based on the results of this graduate research, he included test validation from his computer simulations and many of his own related experiments. This led him to simultaneously pursue his Ph.D. degree and land a full-time position at a manufacturing company near Pittsburgh. He soon found himself responsible for all new research and development for security-oriented products. Soon, he was designing these products to enhance the security of government courthouses, federal banks and buildings, military installations, embassies, commercial buildings, and even airplanes.
rich experience
Recruited by national security policy expert Richard A. Clarke to lead various field security efforts in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Mr. Zinedine is a senior risk assessment and security design expert on many large-scale projects. Served as principal and subject matter expert. He evaluates major ports of entry and many international airports to assess their compliance with international safety standards.
While in the UAE, he also conducted safety assessments, including explosion impact studies, of museums such as the Louvre, the Guggenheim Museum and the Sheikh Zayed National Museum. He also assessed university campuses and structures in the UAE's business districts, including high-rise towers, palaces, exhibition centers, various international hotel chains and luxury island getaways. During that time, Zinedine prioritized leadership development and performance management by insisting on establishing an exemplary culture of understanding and cooperation in all workplaces and at all levels of employee contribution.
consistent education
While engineering and science sparked his interests and continue to play a central role in his career for decades, a parallel passion for education (and developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills) also continues to be at the forefront of Zinedine's work. He has developed and supervised education, training and research programs at Pennsylvania State University, the American University in Dubai, the United States Air Force Academy, Khalifa University and the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation in the United Arab Emirates, while simultaneously teaching students at various stages of the university. I have provided guidance, advice, and encouragement. their school trip.
Zinedine's goal as an educator is to help students develop an “intuitive understanding of how things work, rather than focusing on a cookie-cutter approach.” He sees teaching as “an opportunity to inspire and empower.” Zinedine aims for students to acquire “analytical skills that they can apply to any question,” and to leave the class as scientifically knowledgeable and responsible individuals who can critically evaluate scientific problems.
leader's responsibility
When I ask Zinedine about his strong track record of leadership and expertise in engineering and physical security, he always emphasizes the importance of people and the culture that sustains the systems in which they work. He believes that a culture of education, respect, transparency, integrity, work ethic, and collaboration are as essential to securing a site as the engineering design and construction itself.
According to Zinedine, being able to respect all human connections in complex processes depends on “working together to create common goals and communicating effectively with all stakeholders to achieve these goals.” , it depends on coming together. He believes that leaders are defined by their values, character, and compassion. Zinedine believes leadership is “a responsibility that should be shared with the administration, faculty, and staff,” working together as a team to achieve a common goal.
“The people are always the most important part,” Zinedine said. “You're good at building things, but if you're not taking care of your people as you build a strong culture, you can start to run into problems.”
From zero to nuclear development
Zinedine’s insights on leadership and culture are hard-earned. From 2008 to his 2023, he was instrumental in establishing the UAE's first nuclear energy program. The program started with zero nuclear capacity and resulted in four fully operational reactors. He was also instrumental in establishing the first International and Civil Security Master's degree program offered in the Emirates and the first Civil Infrastructure Engineering Bachelor's degree program in the MENA region. Mr. Zinedine attributes much of this success to his ability to help build an egalitarian and collaborative security culture that values the opinions of all contributors.
Zinedine has worked with nuclear facility staff from 67 different nationalities in the United Arab Emirates to establish what he calls “Nuclear Security English.” This is part of a unique nuclear security culture program aimed at providing a common language foundation for all staff and creating a unique field culture. We set expectations high, solicited input from all participants, and ensured that everyone was interested in sharing the success. The theme of the program is “One Team. One Goal.” As a result, staff are able to bridge cultural gaps, understand expectations, communicate and collaborate more openly and effectively without the constant fear of reprisal and recrimination that often occurs in more authoritarian structures. I was able to do.
Programs designed and managed by Zinedine also include high school outreach and related education and recruitment efforts targeting underrepresented groups, including women and minorities, and include nuclear facility design, regulation, Increased awareness of future career opportunities in construction and operations. As Zinedine says, he has “always had a vision to build and lead an internationally recognized education, engineering and security program with a strong reputation for teaching, research, scholarship and service.” We…encourage our students, faculty, and staff to grow, find fulfillment, and success.'' This approach respects the opinions of everyone involved in the work, giving each person the opportunity to speak up and be heard. and the ability to contribute to the overall effort. In recognition of his extraordinary contribution, dedication, commitment and leadership, he received the prestigious Baraka Nuclear Power Plant Excellence Award.
ORNL's aspirations
Mr. Zinedine brings decades of experience in successfully combining engineering, security, education, leadership, and culture to help reduce global nuclear risks, and here at the Institute he brings unique expertise in similarly innovative ways. Aims to apply knowledge. His vision is to establish an interdisciplinary center of excellence for nuclear security at ORNL. Combining critical infrastructure assessment and protection, risk mitigation, nuclear security leadership, education and training, nuclear security culture and resilience strategies and techniques, the center will collaborate with other research centers, private industry, and government agencies. promotes it.
Zinedine is seeking the opportunity to advocate for this new initiative at ORNL and is committed to seizing the momentum of a resurgence of global interest in nuclear power as a safer, more reliable, carbon-free energy source. There is. Mr. Zinedine believes that partnering with a growing number of national and international companies and institutions will help develop new nuclear projects thoughtfully and holistically, and, as in the past, he remains committed to these efforts. Each of these aims to focus on safety and security and promote clear prioritization. Effective training and communication – building a healthy nuclear safety and security culture.
The bottom line: culture
Zinedine's list of career accomplishments is impressive. He has developed training programs on multiple continents and has been key to establishing a country's entire nuclear industry from the ground up. He has managed millions of dollars in research funding and published numerous conference papers, journal articles, research reports, engineering standards, and security manuals. He has spoken at conferences and workshops around the world. Through it all, he continues to return to culture and leadership as the most important factors in the success of nuclear facility and facilities safety and security initiatives.
“Culture is who we are and how we think, communicate, believe, act, live…a way of life,” Zinedine said. “The effectiveness of site security depends on having a sound nuclear safety and security culture embedded in every aspect of our daily activities and interactions with stakeholders.”
For decades, childhood heroes Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan have broken down cultural barriers and united millions of fans around the world in a shared appreciation of their artistic contributions. Dr. Z is excited about his approach by establishing a science- and engineering-based emphasis. Promoting physical security by design and a healthier, safer nuclear security culture around the world will continue to have a lasting impact by uniting more people for the common good. 1 team. There is only one goal.
UT-Battelle manages ORNL for the Department of Energy's Office of Science, the largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States. The Office of Science works to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit energy.gov/science. – Chris Driver
