Deputy Associate Administrator for Enterprise Stewardship

National Nuclear Security Administration

Mr. Ahmad Al-Daouk is a member of the Federal Senior Executive Service (SES) and serves as the Deputy Associate Administrator for Enterprise Stewardship at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) office in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is currently responsible for the executive leadership and oversight of strategic partnerships with component leaders across NNSA and Department of Energy (DOE). He assures the development and delivery of enterprise cost-effective solutions to current and emerging national priorities in the offices of packaging and transportation, nuclear materials integration, and sustainability and environmental stewardship and radioactive waste management.
Prior to this position, Ahmad served as the Director of the NNSA Office of Packaging and Transportation (OPT). In this capacity he served as the NNSA Certifying Official for offsite shipments of materials of national security interest and other hazardous radioactive materials. He provided leadership in the vital areas of transportation safety policies and implementation of transportation safety requirements across the NNSA enterprise. Before becoming the OPT Director, he served as the National Security Department Manager in the NNSA Office of Technical Services. His responsibilities included the management and oversight of developing, implementing, and managing of assigned domestic and international program and project tasks. This supported the nuclear nonproliferation, nuclear materials integration, and the certification for shipments of materials of national security interests.
Before joining NNSA in 2005, Ahmad spent nearly 14 years at the DOE’s Idaho Operations Office and the Ohio Field Office/West Valley Demonstration Project. He was responsible for several projects that dealt with operations, engineering designs, constructions, decommissioning of nuclear facilities, and waste management. A few significant projects he worked on during that time include the decommissioning of the High-Level Radioactive Waste Vitrification Facility, processing several hot cells used during the spent nuclear fuel reprocessing campaigns, and spent nuclear fuel storage pools. He managed the spent nuclear fuel loading operations, Nuclear Regulatory Commission certifications of two 125 ton spent nuclear fuel casks, interfaced with nine corridor states, two tribes and negotiated contracts with four different railroad carriers. A notable accomplishment during this time period was in 2003, when he managed and successfully completed one of the largest single cross-country shipments of Spent Nuclear Fuel from New York to Idaho.

Director

Government Accountability Office (GAO)

Nathan Anderson serves as a Director in the U.S. and International Nuclear Security and Cleanup group. His work contributes to two High Risk areas—DOE project and contract management and the U.S. Government’s environmental liabilities. He previously served as a Director in the Homeland Security and Justice team where his areas of responsibility included Coast Guard and Maritime Security issues, as well as critical infrastructure protection issues. Before his appointment to the Senior Executive Service, Mr. Anderson served as an Assistant Director where he led a suite of projects examining DOE nuclear waste cleanup issues. Mr. Anderson has also been involved in several institutional stewardship activities. He helped lead GAO’s work for the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions’ (INTOSAI) Working Group on Environmental Auditing, which culminated in a framework to help national audit offices with fewer resources design and implement audits for environmental issues.

Mr. Anderson joined GAO in 2001 after graduating from Whitman College with a bachelor’s degree in economics and Georgetown University with a master’s degree in public policy. He completed American University’s Key Executive Leadership Certificate Program in 2018 and also holds a graduate certificate in international business management from Oxford University.

Reporter

Exchange Monitor Publications & Forums

Wayne Barber is a reporter for ExchangeMonitor Publications. Before the radioactive waste beat at ExchangeMonitor, he spent five years as co-editor of GenerationHub, a publication on construction and regulation of electric power plants. Since 1991, he’s written for various daily and weekly newsletters covering energy, the environment, and natural resources. His reporting includes work for Coal Outlook, Mine Regulation Reporter, Nucleonics Week, and Power Daily. A graduate of Radford University in Virginia, he also spent five years as a newspaper reporter.

Senior Vice President, Technical Services

Amentum

Mr. Blankenhorn is responsible for Nuclear and Environment operations and strategic planning. Jim has recently been appointed as the Lead for Amentum’s Technical Services organization which provides Engineering, Consulting, Project and Environmental Services. Jim currently serves on the board of managers of several LLCs, is Chairman of the UCOR board and serves as a member of the Lawrence Livermore National Security Board of Governors. Prior to his current position, Jim was the Amentum Nuclear Operations and Clean-up Sector Lead which provided executive leadership and oversight to seven Department of Energy Environmental Management and NNSA Tier 1 contracts. He has served in executive leadership positions at Savannah River Site, West Valley Demonstration Project, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and was the Recovery Manager for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. Mr. Blankenhorn has served as the Chief Operating Officer for a commercially traded waste management and environmental services company, and recently retired from the United States Army as a Brigadier General.

Liaison Commissioner for Nuclear Issues

Nye County

Leo Blundo has lived in Nevada for more than 25 years before being elected to the Nye County Board of Commissioners in 2018.

Commissioner Blundo is the board's liaison on nuclear issues, including the proposed Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository, and sits on the Nevada Site-Specific Advisory Board (NSSAB). Leo worked closely with DOE and community stakeholders throughout the years bringing local experience and knowledge.

He serves as Chairman of the County's Board of Highway Commissioners and Chairman of the Nye County Regional Transportation Commission.

Leo has a common-sense approach to addressing difficult kick-the-can issues such as; Yucca Mountain, the safe handling and disposing of spent nuclear waste, and reprocessing nuclear materials.

Commissioner Blundo represents Nye County's Commission District IV located in Pahrump, Nevada.

Manager, Savannah River Operations Office

U.S. Department of Energy

Michael D. Budney was appointed Manager of the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site in February 2018. As DOE-SR Manager, Mr. Budney leads a workforce of about 11,000 government and contractor personnel to perform the Office of Environmental Management’s important missions that include nuclear material storage and disposition, tank waste cleanup and management of Savannah River National Laboratory, EM’s corporate lab.
Prior to his assignment to SRS, Mr. Budney was the Director of the Office of Business Operations in the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy where he led EERE’s workforce planning, information technology and project management efforts and coordinated support service contract and acquisition activities.
Before joining EERE in May 2015, Mr. Budney worked at the Northrop Grumman Corporation leading efforts to win major missile defense contracts in information technology, modeling and simulation, wargames and exercise support, radar, and electronic warfare sensor development. He also led corporatewide initiatives to demonstrate technologies applicable to military missile defense missions.
Mr. Budney is a retired Navy Captain with 29 years of service. At sea, he served aboard four submarines and three ships, commanding a Trident ballistic missile submarine. In his major command, he spent two years as commanding officer of the USS Emory S. Land, a U.S. Navy submarine tender. He also served two and a half years as commanding officer of the USS Pennsylvania (SSBN 735B). During these tours, he and his family lived in Japan, Scotland and Italy.
Mr. Budney’s final military assignment was as Deputy Director of the Nuclear Command and Control System Support Staff, performing oversight duties of all aspects of the national nuclear command and control system for the Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. Other shore assignments included the Chief of Navy Operations Executive Panel, the U.S. Naval Academy and the Chief of Navy Operations Strategic Studies Group.
He earned a bachelor's degree in physics from the U.S. Naval Academy. He also holds a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School and an MBA from the University of Maryland University College.

President and Chief Operating Officer

Waste Control Specialists, LLC

David Carlson is President and Chief Operating Officer of Waste Control Specialists, operator of a low-level radioactive waste disposal facility in Texas.

Carlson has more than 25 years of experience leading the growth and operations of nuclear energy and environmental management companies. He previously served as senior vice president of Veolia Nuclear Solutions (Kurion) where he provided technology solutions for nuclear decommissioning, including support of recovery from the accident in Fukushima Japan. Prior roles include chief operating officer and chief nuclear officer at Gen4 Energy – an advanced reactor startup company, chief operating officer of Aqua-Chem – a manufacturer of water purification equipment, and chief operating officer of Duratek – a radioactive waste management company.

Carlson graduated from the US Naval Academy and began his career as a nuclear submarine officer.

Assistant Manager for Facility and Material Disposal, Idaho Cleanup Project

U.S. Department of Energy

Mr. Case is the Assistant Manager for Facility and Material Disposition at the DOE Idaho Cleanup Project. Mr. Case leads the federal staff providing project management and operational oversight for EM’s cleanup program at the Idaho National Laboratory focused on High Level Waste, Spent Nuclear Fuel and Facility Infrastructure. This encompasses the commissioning and startup of the Integrated Waste Treatment Unit for treatment of the remaining liquid tank waste at the Idaho site. Mr. Case has over 40 years’ experience in both the federal and commercial sector in nuclear and chemical processing operations including reactor operations, chemical fuel reprocessing, and radioactive waste management. Mr. Case is certified as a Level III Federal Project Director. Mr. Case received his B.S. degree in Microbiology (1978) and M.S. degree in Nuclear and Environmental Engineering (1980) from the University of Florida.

Director, Nuclear Policy

Energy Communities Alliance

Ms. Colton is the Director of Nuclear Policy at the Energy Communities Alliance (ECA), the national non-profit organization of local governments impacted by Department of Energy (DOE) activities. She oversees the activities of the organization on nuclear energy issues including research and development of new nuclear technologies, waste classification, reprocessing, interim storage, nuclear workforce development, siting nuclear facilities and high-level waste management. She is also the co-author of A Community Handbook on Nuclear Energy: Understanding Nuclear Energy and Alternatives for the Future, a publication aimed at helping local communities identify and understand the myriad of issues associated with hosting a nuclear facility and the role they can play in its development. Prior to joining ECA, Ms. Colton was the Program Director of the Energy and Environment Division at the National Governors Association’s Center for Best Practices. Her responsibilities included working with Governors’ designees and DOE to ensure the responsible cleanup of federal nuclear facilities, to highlight and encourage successful state strategies for encouraging energy efficiency and renewable energy resources, transmission siting and regional energy planning.

Legacy Facilities Program Manager

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Mark Costella is the Legacy Facilities Program Manager at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Mark has worked with his entire 39-year career at LLNL, first starting as an atmospheric science researcher, advancing through the fields of ES&H management, into Facilities Management. In 2006, Mark established the Institutionally Managed Facilities organization, taking on his present role of LLNL’s Legacy Facility Long-term Stewardship and Risk Manager. Mark is an active participant on NA-50’s Facilities Disposition Working Group and Excess Contaminated Facilities Working Group. Mark has the dubious distinction of managing 4 of NNSA’s top 10 worst legacy facilities.

President

Firewater LLC

Ms. Echols serves as the president of FireWater, LLC which is a woman owned small nuclear waste management company established in 2009. Ms. Echols is responsible for directly growth and expansion of the company’s business with government and commercial clients. She has more than 30 years’ experience in the environmental and waste management areas beginning her career as a health physicist and regulator with the state of Mississippi Division of Radiological Health. Ms. Echols has a Bachelor of Science degree from Mississippi State University. Ms. Echols is active in industry organizations that support DOE clean-up missions including serving as Vice Chair of the EFCOG Waste Management Working Group.

Acting Director of Regulatory, Intergovernmental, and Stakeholder Engagement Senior Advisor for STEM and Talent Acquisition

Office of Environmental Management, U.S. Department of Energy

As Acting Director of Regulatory, Intergovernmental, and Stakeholder Engagement, Kristen oversees the EM Office of Regulatory Compliance and the EM Office of Intergovernmental and Stakeholder Programs.
As Senior Advisor for STEM and Talent Acquisition, she assesses future STEM needs of the EM workforce. She additionally advises on EM workforce issues, including inclusion opportunities for EM’s next generation workforce, and supporting partnerships building an EM talent pipeline.
She previously served as the Chief of Staff for Under Secretary for Science Paul Dabbar, overseeing all daily operations, including personnel, budgets, policy, media, and interface with DOE senior leadership. That portfolio included over $14 billion in Federal funding for fundamental energy research, energy technologies, and science; direct management of 11 of the Department’s national labs and user facilities; the environmental and legacy management missions, the Artificial Intelligence and Technology program; the National Laboratory Operations Board; and technology commercialization activities for the Department.
Previously, she served as the Director of the EM Office of External Affairs, directing the media and Congressional strategies of the EM complex. She also formerly served Director of the EM Intergovernmental Office, partnering with national intergovernmental organizations, tribal governments, and community organizations. She previously served as the Designated Federal Official for the EM Advisory Board.
Earlier, she served within DOE’s Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs, representing DOE at two White House committees, advising the Secretary of Energy on tribal government issues, and serving as the liaison to national intergovernmental organizations.
She received her Juris Doctorate in 2006 from the University of Baltimore School of Law, and is licensed to practice law in the State of Maryland. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Western Maryland College, with concentrations in Communications and Journalism.

Director, Transportation Projects

NAC International, Inc.

Jeff England is the Director of Transportation Projects for NAC International. He is responsible for all NAC packaging and transport projects in support of operations at the Department of Energy, other government agencies, international and commercial projects. He has over 40 years of operations, engineering, project management, program management, mission execution and mission development experience. He has a broad background in radioactive material processing and management. He worked 28 years at the Savannah River National Laboratory. At Savanah River Site, Jeff has served in several multiple technical, management and program manager roles at SRS, Los Alamos National Laboratory and the National Nuclear Security Agency Headquarters. He started off his career at SRS in the Systems Engineering Department supporting Process and Fluid Systems. He is a graduate of Central Washington University, Command and Staff College and Air War College.

National Program Manager, Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Ms. Fatherly is an environmental restoration professional with over 20 years’ experience in the public and private sectors. Currently, she is the National FUSRAP (Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program) Execution Program Manager and Business Line Manager at the Headquarters of the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE aka "The Corps"). Ms. Fatherly leads and oversees a multi-disciplinary 100M plus program whose purpose is to identify and clean-up sites with low-level radiological contamination resulting from former Manhattan Engineering District (MED) and early Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) activities, before the formation of the Department of Energy. Prior to this position she was a USACE Baltimore District FUSRAP Project Manager for various complex cleanup sites under FUSRAP, the Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS) and Military Munitions Remedial Program (MMRP) environmental programs from 2001-2011 in the Mid-Atlantic area.

As a Regulator with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) (1993-2001), Ms. Fatherly was a Lead Hydrogeologist responsible for the oversight of several state and federal CERLCA and RCRA cleanups located in the State of Arizona. From 1989-1993, she was Geologist at various private environmental consulting firms in New York, New Jersey and Arizona responsible for the planning and execution of field investigations, petroleum tank (UST) removal actions and spill responses.

Manager, Technical and Nuclear Services

UCOR

Kent Fortenberry is UCOR's Technical and Nuclear Services Manager. He has 38 years of experience in the design, licensing, operation, and safety oversight of both government and commercial nuclear facilities. He was previously Savannah River Remediation’s (SRR) Chief Engineer, where he managed, planned, and integrated all engineering services required to support the liquid waste work scope. He implemented and managed programs for systems engineering, configuration management, commercial grade detection, nuclear safety, and fire protection. He provided engineering for operations support, including surveillance, maintenance, and system modifications and upgrades. He provided engineering leadership for SRR projects and also supported projects with engineering staff and functional support. He also served as SRR’s Waste Disposal Authority.

Kent started his career as a Nuclear Propulsion Design Engineer at the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory. He moved into commercial nuclear power with the Entergy Corporation, where he built a solid base of expertise, including plant operations as a licensed Senior Reactor Operator, nuclear fuels engineering, reactor physics, safety analysis, and licensing.

He previously worked for the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB), where he played a significant role as that agency's Technical Director, providing nuclear safety oversight of design, construction, operation, deactivation, and research and development activities throughout both DOE-Environmental Management and the National Nuclear Security Administration.

After 16 years with the DNFSB, he joined the Parsons Corporation to provide technical services related to the design and construction of uranium processing, uranium enrichment, and high-level radioactive liquid waste treatment facilities. During this time, Mr. Fortenberry also directed Parsons’ engineering activities at the DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory.

He joined the AECOM Corporation (previously URS) in 2009, working on radioactive waste missions at both Hanford and Savannah River Site. In addition, he worked on corporate performance assurance and oversight to support safe and effective execution of nuclear activities across the DOE complex and abroad.

President

Gutherman Technical Services, LLC

Brian. Gutherman is the president of Gutherman Technical Services. His company provides licensing, engineering, training, and consulting support to the nuclear power industry, primarily in the spent fuel management area. Mr. Gutherman has worked in the nuclear power industry for his entire professional career. He has worked in a variety of engineering and management positions for an architect/engineering firm, a nuclear utility, and a spent fuel cask vendor. Brian has been involved with the NEI dry storage task force since 1998 and has been a consultant to the nuclear power industry in the area of used fuel storage and transportation for the past 17 years.

President and Managing Director

Hagen Global Consulting LLC

Mr. Hagen is President and Managing Director of Hagen Global Consulting LLC, established in 2017 to provide, in part, risk planning, management, independent project oversight, and contractor assurance services to major projects, programs, and organizations in the electric energy and power generation sector. Hagen also serves as President of the Institute of Global Energy Education, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation established in 2019 to fill existing knowledge gaps in how energy works. He has more than 38 years’ of technical and business leadership experience, including leading: design, site construction support, project, manufacturing, and plant engineering teams; radwaste operations and decommissioning teams; energy business consulting teams; as well as Hagen Global & The Institute. Hagen serves on ASTM Committees E10 on Nuclear Technology and Application, E44 on Solar, Geothermal and Other Energy Sources; E50 on Environmental Assessment, Risk Management, and Corrective Action; and E53 on Asset Management. He is also a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (as the Milestone Member), and American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Mr. Hagen holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign and an MBA in Organizational Leadership & Change from North Central College in Naperville, IL.

President, Metal Trades Department

AFL-CIO

Mr. Hart has a long union history in the metal trades. Previously, he was a NYPD Lieutenant a member of UA 798 Pipeliner, and a partner with Harrison & Hart LLC. He initiated Plumbers Local Union #1 as well as the graduate Apprentice Plumbers Local 1, New York City, in 1979.

He is a licensed NYC Board of Education Evening Trade School Teacher, Plumbers Local 1, UA Apprenticeship and Trainee Programs (1986-1996), apprentice, Journeyman, Foreman, Steward and Superintendent, Plumbers Local 1, UA NYC, attendee and graduate of UA Instructor Training Program, Purdue University/Washtenaw College 1986-1990 Instructor at UA Instructor Training Program (Washtenaw College) … 1992-1995

Union positions have included, United Association General Convention delegate since 1981 as local union delegate or UA official; Organizer Plumbers Local 1, UA NYC …. 1994-1996; Financial Secretary Treasurer, Plumbers Local 1, UA NYC …. 1996 – 1997; Director of Organizing and Legislative Affairs, Plumbers Local 1, UA NYC … 1997; Assistant Business Manager Plumbers Local 1, UA NYC …. 1998-1999 and Trustee on all Taft-Hartley administered funds of Plumbers Local Union 1, UA …. 1994 -2004.

He is a registered New York State/City Lobbyist, Executive Committee member of the Richmond County Democratic Party and Trustee of the Bronx County Democrats.

Y-12 Portfolio Federal Project Director, Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management

U.S. Department of Energy

Brian Henry was named Y-12's portfolio federal project director in 2016. In this role, he oversees all of the planning and execution for Y-12’s current and upcoming cleanup projects, including all decontamination, demolition, and disposal operations. In this role, he is also leading preparations for the Mercury Treatment Facility and the Environmental Management Disposal Facility, two of OREM’s largest and most vital near-term capital projects.
The Mercury Treatment Facility will provide a mechanism to control and limit potential increases in mercury migration resulting from the future demolition of Y-12’s large, mercury-contaminated buildings. OREM is also working to finalize plans for the Environmental Management Disposal Facility, an engineered facility that will provide the disposal capacity required to complete the remaining cleanup at Y-12 and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Oak Ridge is unlike many other Environmental Management (EM) cleanup sites around the country since it employs thousands of non-EM employees and conducts other DOE missions in science and national security. Specifically, cleanup at Y-12 requires special considerations due to its mission, onsite employees, proximity to the City of Oak Ridge, and security requirements.
Prior to his selection, Henry was OREM’s senior project manager for the Environmental Management Disposal Facility, and he also served as the interim portfolio federal project director for Y-12. Before joining OREM, Henry served as the chief of the Reservation Management branch at DOE’s Oak Ridge Office, and he also led its Reindustrialization program. Henry has more than 18 years of federal experience working on complex facility and utility projects, including time he spent as a civilian employee for the Navy and the Air Force.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from Tennessee Technological University, and he is a licensed professional engineer in the State of Tennessee.

Deputy Assistant Manager, Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant, Office of River Protection

U.S. Department of Energy

In December 2018, Mat was selected as the Deputy Assistant Manager for the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) to support completion of construction, startup testing, and transition to operations of the Low-Activity Waste (LAW) Facility and design and construction of the remaining WTP facilities.
Mat joined the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of River Protection (ORP) in April 2011 as the Tank Operations Division Director, responsible for supervising and leading the tank farms facility representatives (FR) and safety system oversight engineers. He subsequently was selected as the Deputy Assistant Manager for Technical Regulatory Support in October 2018 responsible for ORP environmental, safety, health, and quality organizations and specific support to accelerate approval of the LAW Documented Safety Analysis in May 2018 and resolution of historic LAW-related quality assurance issues.
In May 1998, Mat accepted a position with the DOE Richland Operations Office (RL) as the site configuration manager. In November 2000, he was selected to the FR program and was assigned to the 324 Building. He was selected as the RL FR of the year for 2001. In 2004 he was assigned as an RL FR team lead. Mat has participated in multiple readiness reviews and Integrated Safety Management System verifications. He was also a shift test engineer for two nuclear plants at Mare Island Naval Shipyard. In 1994, he began work at Hanford as a contractor cognizant engineer and engineering manager for Solid Waste Management. He was responsible for development and implementation of facility safety analysis reports, unreviewed safety questions, permits, engineering program, configuration control of modifications, the criticality safety program, and all other technical aspects of Solid Waste Management facility operation.
Mat holds a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering from Arizona State University.

Director of Strategic Initiatives

Pacific Gas & Electric Company - PG&E

Tom Jones is the Director of Strategic Initiatives for Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s Generation line of business, where he oversees regulatory and external strategies for both Diablo Canyon Power Plant and Humboldt Bay Power Plant. This includes the transition from operations to decommissioning at Diablo Canyon.

Jones has worked on all federal, state and local approvals needed for PG&E’s two ISFSIs, steam generator replacements at Diablo Canyon and the Joint Proposal – the transition and retirement plan for Diablo Canyon Power Plant. In addition, Jones oversees the stewardship of over 12,000 acres and 14 miles of coastline of the Diablo Properties and the Diablo Canyon Decommissioning Engagement Panel.

Prior to this role, Jones served in Corporate Affairs and Local Government Relations for over a decade, and most recently was the Director of Corporate Affairs for energy generation.

Jones joined PG&E in 2001 during the height of California’s energy crisis. Prior to joining the company, he worked for State Senator Jack O’Connell (San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties) for seven years (1994-2001), ultimately serving as his District Director. In that capacity, Jones oversaw key public safety, public education, infrastructure investment, energy matters and constituent advocacy programs.

He has been actively involved in many other community organizations. Jones served as the Chairman of the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce in 2020. Previously, Jones served as the Chairman of the Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center Governing Board, Chairman of the Economic Vitality Corporation, Planning Commissioner for the City of Atascadero, San Luis Obispo Literacy Council, San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce, the Central Coast Economic Forecast Project, Kern Economic Development Corporation, and the Economic Development Corporation serving Fresno County. Jones received his bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara.

Manager, Carlsbad Field Office (CBFO), WIPP

Office of Environmental Management, U.S. Department of Energy

Reinhard Knerr serves as the manager of the Carlsbad Field Office (CBFO), where he oversees operations at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). He transferred from his current role as DUF6 Federal Project Director at the Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office where he supervised the depleted uranium hexafluoride (DUF6) conversion facilities at the Portsmouth, Ohio and Paducah, Kentucky sites.
Mr. Knerr has held leadership and strategic planning roles at the Paducah site since 2004, including managing environmental remediation work, transitioning the site’s gaseous diffusion plant from the United States Enrichment Corporation back to the Department of Energy, and initiating utility and infrastructure optimization projects. He also has served as the transuranic waste certification team leader at WIPP, and has over nine years of experience as a nuclear criticality safety engineer supporting contractor operations at the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Pantex Plant. Mr. Knerr holds a Bachelor of Science in nuclear engineering from the Pennsylvania State University.

Vice President of Strategic Development, Nuclear & Environment

Amentum

Eric Knox currently serves as Vice President, Strategic Development, Nuclear & Environment for AECOM. He also serves as Chairman Emeritus of the Executive Committee for the United States Nuclear Infrastructure Council (NIC), a leading not-for-profit think tank advocate group for nuclear energy new-build in the U.S. with more than sixty members representing an "International Who's Who" of global nuclear energy utilities, manufacturers and suppliers. As Chairman of NIC from 2011- 2014, he was the longest serving Chairman in the history of the organization.


Prior to joining AECOM, he served at the U.S. Department of Energy as Associate Director for System Operations and External Outreach in the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management (OCRWM) where he led the successful Yucca Mountain Site recommendation effort and helped conclude the successful submission of the Yucca Mountain License Application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Mr. Knox served as a Senior Advisor to three Secretaries of Energy – Watkins, Abraham and Bodman; and also served as Senior Policy Advisor and Chief of Staff in the Office of the Under Secretary of Energy from 2002-2006. From 1990 - 1992, he served in OCRWM and as Associate Director of Political Affairs at the White House during the Administration of President George H. W. Bush.


Mr. Knox has an extensive energy, business and political background. He served as President and CEO of American Target Resources, LLP, a service organization representing national not-for-profit organizations. Mr. Knox has over 25 years’ experience working with state, local and national political candidates and party organizations. In addition to his business and political endeavors, Mr. Knox spent one year supporting global medical mission efforts working with the blind and disabled. He is a graduate of Clemson University and currently serves on their Washington, DC Alumni Board and served as President of the Board from 1992-1999.

Senior Analyst

Government Accountability Office (GAO)

Senior Director, Fuel and Decommissioning Programs, Nuclear Energy Institute

Nuclear Energy Institute

Rod McCullum has been working on regulatory issues at NEI since 1998. He has 30 years of nuclear engineering, licensing, management and regulatory policy experience. Currently, at NEI, he leads industry efforts to reduce business risks associated with used nuclear fuel management, commercial nuclear power plant decommissioning, emergent material degradation issues, and the introduction of accident tolerant fuels by directing broad scope technical and regulatory programs. He held prior positions in Government (with the Department of Energy) and Industry (at three commercial nuclear power plants). He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering (University of Cincinnati, 1985) and a Master of Business Administration degree (Lewis University, 2000).

Vice President Business Development and Sales

Studsvik

Tammy Monday has over 30 years’ experience in the environmental and nuclear industry supporting Commercial, Federal and International clients solving their waste management challenges. Tammy joined Studsvik in May 2019 as the Vice President of Business Development and Sales where she will continue to use her technical knowledge and years of industry experience to provide cost effective solutions that mitigate client's risk. Prior to joining Studsvik, Tammy served in a variety of capacities with Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. With Perma-Fix, she served as Vice President of Waste Services Sales and Business Development planning and directing all aspects of the division’s business development and sales program for the Government, Commercial and International waste services markets. Prior to that role, she was Director of Sales focusing primarily on DOE sites across the Complex. In her early years with Perma-Fix, she managed the Customer Service Division which included responsibility for Perma-Fix’s waste brokerage services, waste shipments and meeting customer’s needs and expectations. Tammy has been an active member of the Energy Facility Contractors Group (EFCOG) since 2012 and is currently the Vice Chair of the Waste Management Working Group and Chair of the Challenging Waste Subgroup.

Principal / Chief Strategy Officer, I.C.E. Service Group

I.C.E. Service Group

After leaving the State of New Jersey for the private sector, Mr. Morgan held various positions including Site Health & Safety Officer, Project Manager and Program Manager; working for well know environmental, remediation and waste management companies; including Conti Federal Services; ENSR/AECOM & MHF Logistical Solutions, Inc.
Mr. Morgan is one of the founders and principals of I.C.E. Service Group, Inc. (ICE) www.iceservicegroup.com and Strategic Packaging Systems (SPS) www.spsonline.biz. ICE & SPS provide packaging, transportation, logistics and waste management services to public and private industries; the majority of which involve radioactive waste; hazardous waste and hazardous materials.
ICE & SPS have operations across North America; Including; New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Arizona & Tennessee; these don’t include project offices across North America. ICE & SPS employ approximately 100 individuals across North America.
Mr. Morgan is a career veteran with over 30 years of direct hands on experience in the management of over $500,000,000 in projects related to environmental construction services, remediation, hazardous waste management, remediation, demolition and emergency response services. During his career, he was often called upon to assist in the turn-around of problem projects by implementing his project management expertise, and value-added recommendations to successfully see the projects to completion.
Over his career, he has worked on some of our countries most notable environmental and remediation projects. He was the program manager for such projects as the CIC Superfund Site, Li Tungsten Superfund Site, Buckeye Landfill Superfund Site and Maywood Superfund Site. Over his career he was directly responsible for developing and implementing the plans for the handling, security / threat assessment, management, transportation & disposal of over 15,000,000 tons of low-level radioactive waste, hazardous and non-hazardous waste.

Chief of Staff

Office of Environmental Management, U.S. Department of Energy

Mike Nartker serves as EM Chief Strategist. In this role, Mike is responsible for working closely with EM’s senior leadership to ensure that critical DOE strategies, strategic guidance, and initiatives are developed to support the EM mission, and will focus our corporate planning activities on results-oriented strategic goals, including development of the EM Strategic Vision. Mike’s positions in DOE have included serving as the Director of Congressional Services and Information in the DOE Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs and as EM Acting Communications Director and External Affairs Director. Prior to joining DOE in 2015, Mike was a reporter for Weapons Complex Monitor, and later Associate Editor and Editor-in-Chief at Exchange Monitor Publications. Mike holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from George Washington University.

Associate Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Field Operations

Office of Environmental Management, U.S. Department of Energy

Nicole Nelson-Jean is serving as the Associate Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Field Operations for the Office of Environmental Management (EM). Nelson-Jean has overriding responsibility to support the 16 EM field sites working throughout the nation to clean up and safely disposition large volumes of nuclear waste, safeguard and prepare for disposition of nuclear materials, deactivate and decommission several thousand radiologically and chemically contaminated facilities, and remediate extensive surface and groundwater contamination.
Prior to this position, Nelson-Jean served as the Manager of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Savannah River Field Office providing oversight for the management, security, quality assurance, environment, health, safety, nonproliferation, and national security missions for the Savannah River Site.
Nelson-Jean’s years of experience includes environmental management, infrastructure, nuclear safety, nuclear security, nuclear energy, nonproliferation, business and contract management. She has held numerous positions domestically and abroad for the Department of Energy and NNSA. She was the Manager of the Livermore Field Office and Senior Advisor to the Acting NNSA Administrator at the Los Alamos Site Office.
She began her career at Los Alamos National Laboratory in the Office of Environmental Management and then moved to the Nonproliferation and International Technology where she supplied technical analysis regarding foreign civil, military, and commercial technological advances in countries of a proliferation concern.
Nelson-Jean earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Grambling State University, a master’s degree in liberal arts from St. John’s College, and a master’s degree in strategic security studies from National Defense University. She also completed the Leadership for a Democratic Society Program at the Federal Executive Institute.

President

American Nuclear Society Inc

Steve Nesbit founded LMNT Consulting in 2019 following a distinguished career with Duke Energy Corporation. LMNT Consulting supports clients on matters related to the nuclear fuel cycle, advanced nuclear energy systems, and nuclear nonproliferation.
Steve’s career at Duke Energy began in 1982 performing safety analyses in support of nuclear power plants. Between 1996 and 2005, he led Duke Energy’s efforts related to the use of mixed oxide (MOX) fuel in its nuclear power reactors as a part of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) project to dispose of surplus plutonium from nuclear weapons. He also managed used nuclear fuel activities for Duke Energy. For nine years prior to retirement from Duke Energy, he was responsible for developing the company’s policy positions related to nuclear power, and interacting with industry and government groups on used fuel management and related issues. In addition to nuclear utility activities, during his career Steve worked on several DOE projects including the New Production Reactor Project, the Yucca Mountain Spent Nuclear Fuel Disposal Project, and the Centralized Interim Storage Facility Project. He supported the U.S. Department of State on outreach to countries with developing nuclear power programs. He also served on the International Panel of Experts for the Nuclear Threat Initiative’s 2016, 2018 and 2020 Nuclear Security Index reports. He testified on spent fuel policy issues to the House Energy and Commerce Committee in 2017 and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in 2019.
Steve received Bachelor of Science and Master of Engineering degrees in nuclear engineering from the University of Virginia. He is a registered professional engineer in North Carolina. He is a past adjunct faculty member at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he taught nuclear engineering. He became President of the American Nuclear Society (ANS) in June 2021 and will serve in that role through June 2022. Some of his past roles with ANS include Chair of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Technical Group, Chair of the Public Policy Committee, member of the ANS Board of Directors, and Chair of the Piedmont Carolinas ANS local section.

Director, Integrated Waste

Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

Corhyn Parr is Director of Integrated Waste at the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), a role which includes creating a national programme to improve how waste is retrieved, treated, transported, stored and disposed of. She has worked within the nuclear industry for 20 years since graduating as a mechanical engineer, supporting nuclear operations, generation, decommissioning and waste management.
She is also the Chair of the Nuclear Skills Strategy Group (NSSG) which is an important national alliance for skills and provides a space for Government and industry to join forces on the right skills strategy and plan for nuclear. A core passion of hers is to drive for a fully diverse and inclusive nuclear sector and as Exec Sponsor for D&I at NDA is steering efforts across the group to build a new EDI strategy to deliver step change.
A perpetual advocate and supporter of the nuclear industry, Corhyn has previously chaired the Young Generation Network, been a Board Member of the Nuclear Institute, served as Chair of the Nuclear Power Committee of the IMechE and the NIA Decommissioning and Existing Nuclear Working Group. She is currently a Non-Executive Director at Cogent Skills Ltd and Radioactive Waste Management Ltd.

President and Chief Executive Officer

UCOR

Ken Rueter is President and Chief Executive Officer of UCOR, the Department of Energy's (DOE) cleanup contractor for the Oak Ridge Reservation. As President of UCOR, Ken has guided and motivated a professional management team and hundreds of skilled workers as they successfully undertake the largest environmental cleanup in DOE’s history. Together, he and the UCOR workforce are eliminating hazards and reducing risks in East Tennessee.
Under Ken’s oversight, UCOR has experienced an unmatched record of success –
not only finishing major projects ahead of schedule and under budget but doing so safely as demonstrated by DOE’s awarding UCOR Star status in its Voluntary Protection Program. As a result of Ken’s leadership, UCOR’s incentive award fees from DOE have been among the highest in the complex.
During almost three decades of industry experience, Ken has led all aspects of site cleanup and remediation, radioactive waste treatment and project integration, including construction, risk management as well as cost and schedule development. Previously, Ken served as President of Savannah River Remediation LLC and as Project Manager for the Savannah River Liquid Waste Project.
Earlier in his career, Ken served as Chief Operating Officer for the Hanford Tank Operations Contract in Washington State and as Director of Project Integration for Washington River Protection Solutions at DOE’s Hanford site.
Ken is most proud of building investment-worthy enterprises that deliver more value to the customer for every dollar spent. That philosophy is paying off as DOE has exercised the option period of UCOR’s Oak Ridge contract, opening the door for even more work through 2020.

Strategic Communications Manager

Navarro Research and Engineering, Inc.

Jesse serves as Strategic Communications Manager for Navarro Research and Engineering, supporting a variety of public affairs, stakeholder engagement, and internal and external communications functions for the U.S. Department of Energy Environmental Management Nevada Program. Prior to joining Navarro, Jesse served as Director of Communications for Monroe County, New York. He possesses more than a decade of experience in local, state, and federal government communications, public relations, and strategic messaging. A native of Upstate New York, Jesse is a proud graduate of St. John Fisher College in Rochester, where he earned a B.A. in Political Science and English.

Business Development Manager

VNS Federal Services

Jeff Stahl is a Business Development Manager for Veolia Nuclear Solutions Federal Services. He has 35+ years of experience in the hazardous waste, nuclear processing, and industrial sectors. His experience includes field operations, facility operations and management, and client relations. He was General Manager of Alaron Nuclear Services from 2012 to 2019. He rejoined VNSFS in 2020. He has a BS in Forest Resources from the University of Idaho. In a previous untethered-life he was a wildland firefighter as a crewmember of the Idaho Panhandle Hotshots. He resides in beautiful and peaceful Nazareth, PA.

Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisition and Project Management, and Head of Contracting Activity

Office of Environmental Management, U.S. Department of Energy

Ms. Angela Watmore is a Special Advisor within the Office of Environmental Management (EM). She is currently the Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisition and Project Management, and the Head of Contracting Activity for EM. Ms. Watmore has over 25 years of acquisition and project management experience within the energy, aerospace and national defense sectors. She has spent the majority of her career in the nuclear and defense industry as an executive with private sector, along with public service. She began her public service career with the US Army Corps of Engineers in Omaha, Nebraska, as a Regulatory Compliance Specialist and Law Clerk working Superfund cleanup sites. Angela has worked in the EM program at both Headquarters and the field, including the Rocky Flats and Hanford sites.
She is a graduate of the University of Nebraska and a licensed attorney with a Juris Doctorate from the Creighton School of Law, Omaha, Nebraska.

Consultant to the Tribal Council, Prairie Island Indian Community

Prairie Island Indian Community

As a consultant to the Prairie Island Indian Community, Welch, Minnesota, Heather Westra has worked in Indian Country for close to 30 years. Ms. Westra has been working with the Prairie Island Indian Community for 25+ years, focusing primarily on regulatory and environmental issues related to the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant and Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation, immediately adjacent to the Prairie Island Mdewakanton Dakota Community’s homeland.

Served on the Board of Visitors for the Emergency Management Institute, National Emergency Training Center. Trained over 300 students in EMI’s tribal curriculum-- E580 Emergency Management Framework for Tribal Governments, E581 Emergency Operations for Tribal Officials, and E344 Mitigation for Tribal Officials.

Ms. Westra has a BS in Environmental Science from Plymouth State University (New Hampshire).

President

Roane State Community College

Chris Whaley serves as Roane State Community College’s fifth President. Whaley previously served as Vice-President of Student Learning, Dean of Social Science, Business & Education, and Program Director of Paralegal Studies. He has taught at Roane State since 1997. He is a graduate of Roane State (A.A.), Middle Tennessee State University (B.S.) and the University of Tennessee College of Law (J.D.). Whaley is licensed to practice law in Tennessee, and he is a Rule 31 Civil Mediator. He serves on several Boards including The Roane Alliance, The Tennessee Valley Corridor, Mid East Community Action Agency and The National Association of Community College Entrepreneurship.

Vice President, Marketing and Communications, Nuclear & Environment (N&E) Strategic Business Unit (SBU)

Amentum

Keith Wood is Vice President, Marketing and Communications for Amentum’s Nuclear & Environment (N&E) Strategic Business Unit (SBU). He is based in Aiken, South Carolina.
Mr. Wood is responsible for developing and directing a comprehensive strategic communications program including employee communications, media relations, public relations, community affairs, marketing, corporate sponsorship, government affairs issues analysis, and corporate philanthropy.
Keith’s primary function is to represent Amentum’s Nuclear & Environment SBU as its chief spokesperson, aligning with the corporation’s overall message while ensuring the goals and objectives of the customers are achieved. In this capacity, he develops and implements communication strategies for N&E; assures integration of communications to achieve integrated, consistent communications to all stakeholders; builds relationships throughout the industry; coordinates and develops an effective federal, state and local government affairs strategy; participates in economic development opportunities with surrounding communities at U.S. Department of Energy and UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority sites; and promotes community relations involvement of Amentum management.
Mr. Wood joined the company in 1989 and has held a number of positions of increasing responsibility in the Public Affairs field, including Director of Public Affairs for Washington Savannah River Company (WSRC); Public Information Specialist; Strategic Programs Specialist; and Community Assistant Manager. Most recently he served as Vice President, Marketing and Communications for AECOM.
Mr. Wood is very active in the community, holding positions over the years on executive committees for the Citizens for Nuclear Technology Awareness and the Aiken Chamber of Commerce (Chairman in 2008), the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce (2015), the Aiken County United Way Board of Directors (Chairman in 2010), the City of Aiken Election Commission (2018), Aiken Municipal Development Commission (Current Chairman), Gregg-Graniteville Foundation (2020), USC Aiken Partnership Board (Chairman in 2015), and the USC Engineering and Computing College Advisory Board. He is also a graduate of the South Carolina Executive Institute and Leadership Aiken County.