What school does a nuclear officer attend first?

• A. Naval Academy
• B. Naval Nuclear Power School (NPS)
• C. Surface Warfare Officers School
• D. Nuclear Power Laboratory

Answer: (B)

A naval nuclear officer first attends Naval Nuclear Power School after commissioning. This program teaches the foundational theory needed for nuclear propulsion—nuclear physics, reactor design, thermodynamics, materials, and radiological controls—so officers have the solid engineering groundwork before moving on to hands-on training. After completing NPS, they proceed to the Nuclear Power Training Unit for practical, on‑the‑job practice with a prototype reactor, before joining a nuclear-powered ship. While the Naval Academy is where many officers are commissioned, and Surface Warfare Officers School provides warfare qualifications, those aren’t the initial nuclear training step. Nuclear Power Laboratory isn’t part of the standard pipeline.