The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board this week announced the promotion of two senior staffers at the federal watchdog agency for Department of Energy nuclear sites.
In moves effective Feb. 26, Katherine Herrera became the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB)’s first deputy executive director of operations and Timothy Dwyer was appointed the agency’s new technical director. The moves were announced in a Tuesday press release from executive director of operations Mary Buhler.
“Katherine Herrera brings a wealth of leadership experience to her new role,” having previously served as the board’s interim executive director from July to December 2023, when Buhler took over.
Herrera was also acting technical director, according to the release. She joined DNFSB in November 2015 as deputy general manager and became deputy technical director in January 2018. Before joining DNFSB, Herrera held posts at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security.
Dwyer, who has logged more than 30 years with the DNFSB, became acting technical director in July 2023 after former technical director Christopher Roscetti departed to take a health and safety post with DOE. In addition to deputy technical director, Dwyer has held a number of posts at DNFSB, including systems engineer, Pantex Site resident inspector and board liaison, according to the press release.
The latest moves leave DNFSB with only one acting senior manager, acting general counsel Joseph Gilman, on the top level of staff just below the board on the organizational chart published in December.
Buhler became DNFSB’s second executive director of operations effective in December.
DNFSB Chair Joyce Connery and the board reportedly undermined the first executive director, Joel Spangenberg, after the post was created to run the board’s administrative functions, the Office of Inspector General for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has said.
Spangenberg, who left DNFSB, is now acting director of the U.S. Selective Service System.
The DNFSB was established by congress in September 1988 to provide independent safety advice and recommendations to the secretary of energy. The secretary must publicly respond to these requests in writing.
