2017 | AFC ACCOMPLISHMENTS 10 1.2 FROMTHE DIRECTOR The mission of the Advanced Fuels Campaign (AFC) is to perform research, development and demonstration (RD&D) activities for advanced fuel forms (including clad- ding) to boost the performance and safety of the nation’s current and future reactors; enhance proliferation resistance of nuclear fuel; effectively utilize nuclear energy resources; and address the longer-term waste manage- ment challenges.This includes develop- ment of a state-of-the art research and development (R&D) infrastructure to support the use of a “goal-oriented, science- based approach.” In support of the NuclearTechnology Research and Development (NTRD) program,AFC is responsible for devel- oping advanced fuel technologies to augment the current and future fuel cycle options. In philosophy, AFC pursues a “goal-oriented, science- based approach” aimed at a fundamental understanding of fuel and cladding fabrication methods and performance under irradiation, enabling the pursuit of multiple fuel forms for future fuel cycle options to support qualification and licensing of tech- nologies.This approach includes fundamental experiments, theory, and advanced modeling and simula- tion to ultimately support integral qualification and licensing activi- ties.The modeling and simulation activities for fuel performance are carried out under the Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NEAMS) program, which is closely coordinated with AFC. In this report, the word “fuel” is used generically to include fuels, targets, and their associated cladding materials. In FY-17, many AFC goals and initia- tives have achieved success and have progressed significantly.. The campaign management staff is responsible coordinating and inte- grating the activities performed by many organizations, DOE’s national laboratories, U.S. industry partners, and universities funded through the DOE Nuclear Energy University Proj- ects (NEUP) program.The campaign is responsible for developing and executing international collabora- tions on nuclear fuel research and development, primarily with France, Japan, the European Union, Republic of Korea, and China, as well as various working groups and expert group activities in the Organiza- tion for Economic Cooperation and Development Nuclear Energy Agency (OECD-NEA) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Our goal in the international community is to achieve a high level of coordina- tion across the nuclear technology community and to improve the competitiveness of U.S. nuclear technology base.Three industry-led projects made significant progress in fuels and materials development. All are closely integrated in the AFC accident-tolerant fuels (ATF) program. Accomplishments made during FY-17 are highlighted in this report, which focuses on completed work and results.The key FY-17 technical area outcomes include: Jon Carmack NationalTechnical Director (208) 526-5424 jon.carmack@inl.gov