Meet the ‘Bomb Lady’, the mother of America’s bunker busters

When you hear the nickname “The Bomb Lady,” you might picture a larger-than-life figure straight out of a Hollywood thriller. 

But Nguyet Anh Duong is a 5-foot-1 Vietnamese American scientist, suburban mother-of-four, and a quietly brilliant mind behind some of the most powerful weapons in the US arsenal. 

Her story is one of resilience, innovation, and a deep sense of gratitude to the country that gave her refuge.

Just days before the Fall of Saigon in April 1975, her family fled the country, becoming part of the harrowing wave of Vietnamese “boat people”, having stayed in a refugee processing camp in Bataan province, north of Manila. 

Settling into a new life, Duong pursued dual degrees in Chemical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Maryland, College Park, laying the foundation for a career that would change modern warfare.

In 1983, she began working as a chemical engineer at the Indian Head Naval Surface Weapons Center. 

Over the next two decades, Duong managed and led programmes developing advanced explosives and undersea weapons, eventually spearheading a team that created the so-called “thermobaric” bomb — a weapon capable of producing devastating, sustained blasts in confined spaces like caves and bunkers.

The thermobaric bomb, sometimes called a “fuel-air explosive,” works by dispersing a cloud of fuel that ignites and creates a high-temperature blast wave, consuming oxygen and generating extreme pressure. 

This makes it especially effective against underground tunnels and bunkers — places where traditional explosives struggle to reach.

Duong’s leadership was pivotal in rapidly developing this weapon for the US Air Force in just 67 days, an unprecedented feat.

The bomb’s design focused on real-world operational needs — safety, reliability, and tactical effectiveness — rather than theoretical or overly optimistic concepts.

As Laura Blumenfeld wrote in The Washington Post, Duong is an “unlikely weapons genius,” a suburban mom who forbids her children from reading Harry Potter because she doesn’t want them to think violence is the answer. 

Yet, she built weapons

as a deterrent, believing strongly that strength prevents conflict. 

“By building bombs, [you make] the other guys realise they shouldn’t mess with us,” she said. “If you have a gun, I have a bazooka.”

Duong’s thermobaric bomb is part of the family of explosives that includes the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) — the so-called “bunker buster” used in high-profile strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in Fordo and Natanz in recent years. 

As reported by The New York Times in June 2025, Duong recognised the technical lineage of the bombs dropped on Iran’s underground nuclear sites.

It’s a moment of quiet pride for a woman whose work has shaped modern military capabilities.

The BLU-118/B, a laser-guided thermobaric bomb developed under Duong’s guidance, was used extensively in Afghanistan against Al Qaeda tunnels and caves. 

Its ability to produce a sustained, high-temperature blast meant soldiers didn’t have to clear these dangerous areas on foot, saving countless lives and shortening America’s longest war.

After 9/11, Duong led nearly 100 scientists in a crash programme  to develop America’s first thermobaric, bunker-busting explosive. 

Her work extended beyond bombs: from 2002, she served as Director of Science and Technology at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, shaping the future of weapons development.

Since 2009, she has led the Borders and Maritime Security Division of the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate, applying her expertise to national security challenges.

Despite her contributions, Duong remains humble and committed to peace. “I hate war,” she told The Washington Post. 

“I build weapons as a deterrent.” Her life’s mission is deeply personal: “I’m here because in Vietnam, we ran out of bullets. I don’t want to ever be in that position again.”

Nguyet Anh Duong’s journey — from a refugee fleeing war to a pioneering scientist shaping America’s defense — embodies resilience, ingenuity, and dedication. 

Her thermobaric bombs have redefined military strategy, providing powerful tools that protect soldiers and deter adversaries alike.

As Duong herself puts it, “Once the bombs are built, how they’re used is out of my hands. You have to have faith in our leadership.” 

Her faith is rooted in a lifetime of service, sacrifice, and the hope that her work helps keep peace through strength.