In a first-of-its-kind operation, the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of Energy transported a next-generation nuclear microreactor aboard a C-17 cargo aircraft from March Air Reserve Base to Hill Air Force Base. The reactor — developed by California-based Valar Atomics — was flown without nuclear fuel as part of a logistics and deployment demonstration. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Michael Duffey were onboard the f