ML25035A023
| ML25035A023 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 01/13/2025 |
| From: | Office of Public Affairs |
| To: | |
| References | |
| News Release-25-003 | |
| Download: ML25035A023 (1) | |
Text
No: 25-003 January 13, 2025 CONTACT: Ivonne Couret, 301-415-8200 NRCs ACRS Elects 2025 Leadership and Confirms Meeting Schedule The Nuclear Regulatory Commissions Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards has re-elected Walter L. Kirchner as Chair, Gregory H. Halnon as Vice-Chair and David A. Petti as Member-at-Large. The ACRS has also confirmed a schedule of 10 meetings in 2025.
Kirchner has more than 50 years of experience in nuclear reactor systems and technologies, including sailing on the N.S. Savannah, working at Los Alamos and Argonne national laboratories, and serving as a consultant to the Presidents Commission on the Accident at Three Mile Island (Kemeny Commission). Kirchners technical expertise is in nuclear reactor design and safety, and thermal hydraulics. He earned a bachelors degree in marine engineering from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, and a masters degree and Ph.D. in nuclear engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Halnon is an independent nuclear industry consultant with more than 40 years of experience in the nuclear and utility industries. He has held positions ranging from systems engineer and operations management to executive leadership at operating and decommissioned nuclear plants including Chief Nuclear Officer at Three Mile Island Unit 2. Halnon has expertise in nuclear plant operations as well as quality standards, security, maintenance and engineering processes. Halnon earned a bachelors degree in engineering from the University of Central Florida with an emphasis on mechanical and thermal hydraulics.
Petti brings more than 30 years of experience in technology leadership and principal investigator of nuclear science and engineering materials-related technologies. His work includes numerous lead and chief scientist positions at the U.S. Department of Energy, Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, University of Idaho and the Phebus Facility at the Cadarache Nuclear Site in France. Petti has expertise in large nuclear technology development projects with national and international impacts. Petti earned a bachelors, masters and Sc.D. degree in nuclear engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The ACRS is a group of experienced technical experts, independent of the NRC staff, that reports directly to and advises the Commission on safety issues related to the licensing and operation of nuclear power plants, along with issues of health physics and radiation protection.
Additional information including a complete list of ACRS members appointed by the Commission, as well as written reports, can be found on their website. A full listing of the meetings for 2025 is also posted on the NRC website.