Our Expertise
Our expertise is built on more than three decades of developing, implementing, and leading national-level safeguards, security, and emergency preparedness programs across the DOE, NRC, DoD, and commercial nuclear sectors. We bring deep, hands-on experience supporting power reactors, ISFSIs, DOE national security sites, classified facilities, fuel cycle operations, and next-generation SMR projects.
Our capabilities span enterprise security program development and planning, protective force operations, physical security and facility design, personnel security and access authorization, information and national industrial security, material control and accounting, international safeguards, training and qualification, and corrective action oversight—delivering solutions that are practical, defensible, and aligned with DOE Orders, NRC 10 CFR Parts 73 & 74, and ISC standards.
ABOUT US
Our Mission & Why SombraSec
Our Mission
At SombraSec Strategies, our mission is to protect the nation’s most sensitive nuclear, classified, and critical infrastructure operations by delivering security programs that are inspection-ready, compliance-driven, and built on real-world experience. We don’t just advise — we deliver security you can trust.
Why SombraSec
SombraSec Strategies brings a level of expertise that few firms can match. We have developed, implemented, and led national-level safeguards, security, and emergency preparedness programs across the DOE, NRC, DoD, and commercial nuclear sectors. Our support is compliant, independent, and grounded in deep experience with SMR deployments, advanced reactors, DOE contractors, federal prime contractors, and critical infrastructure operators.
Clients choose SombraSec because we understand what federal regulators, assessors, and program offices expect—and we deliver strategies that are clear, defensible, and aligned with Executive Orders on nuclear revitalization and regulatory reform.
Our focus is simple: mission success, regulatory confidence, and resilient security programs you can trust.
Who We Are
SombraSec Strategies is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) providing mission-driven nuclear security consulting, SMR licensing support, DOE/NRC regulatory compliance, and emergency preparedness. We specialize in advanced reactors, classified facilities, and critical infrastructure, delivering inspection-ready, policy-aligned solutions that reduce regulatory risk and strengthen resilience.
Daniel Cardenas
Founder & Principal Consultant
True security isn’t about adding barriers — it’s about building confidence, capability, and readiness.
With more than 30 years of experience in nuclear security and emergency preparedness, I am among the few professionals to have served across the Department of Energy (DOE), Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Department of Defense (DoD), and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). My career spans from combat leadership as a Marine Corps infantry leader to executive oversight as DOE’s Director of Safeguards, Security, and Emergency Preparedness, where I managed a $360 million enterprise program supporting 17 field sites and directed national classified security programs across multiple federal buildings and DOE & NRC facilities.
At DOE, I modernized the National Industrial Security Program’s Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (FOCI) process, cutting review times for more than 200 companies. Earlier, with the NRC, I conducted over 45 Force-on-Force and physical security inspections across nearly every NRC-licensed commercial nuclear facility, reviewed licensee security plans, and helped shape national security policy. I served as the Chief of Security for the NRC, responsible for the protection of personnel, information, and operations across 10 federal buildings nationwide, supporting more than 4,000 employees and ensuring the security of sensitive and classified activities. I’ve also supported IAEA bilateral missions and DOE site reviews, bridging U.S. and international safeguards perspectives.
Before federal service, I served in law enforcement as a police supervisor and field-training officer, leading tactical and active-shooter programs and helping my agency achieve CALEA national accreditation. These experiences continue to ground my approach in operational realism and readiness.
Today, I lead SombraSec Strategies LLC, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) that helps advanced reactor developers, DOE contractors, and federal primes build inspection-ready, defensible, and cost-effective security programs. My focus is on practical, risk-informed solutions that reduce cost, accelerate readiness, and maintain full compliance with DOE and NRC requirements.
Credentials: DOE Safeguards & Security TQP | NRC Physical Security & Force-on-Force Evaluator | ISC Risk Management | USCCA National Firearms Instructor | Maryland Qualified Handgun Instructor