Reichert Replaces Dan Glenn, Who Was Bid by CNS But Was Subject of B&W Lawsuit
Todd Jacobson
NS&D Monitor
4/25/2014
Bechtel-led Consolidated Nuclear Security has replaced Dan Glenn as the operations manager of the Pantex Plant with another former Babcock & Wilcox official, revealing this week that Michelle Reichert would head up operations at Pantex under the new contract. Reichert most recently served as the deputy general manager for incumbent Pantex Plant contractor B&W Pantex, but also spent time at B&W Conversion Services and at the Y-12 National Security Complex. “As Pantex Operations manager, Michelle provides continuity of operations at Pantex and brings experience from Y-12—both of which will be important for CNS to meet the NNSA’s expectations for mission delivery and efficient operations across the two sites,” CNS spokesman Jason Bohne said, noting that Reichert previously worked with Y-12 operations manager Bill Tindal.
Tindall is a longtime Y-12 executive and served as the Vice President of Production at the site since 2013. Bohne said the pair had “already begun working collaboratively to determine ways to streamline operations and find opportunities at the two sites to ensure safe, secure, high quality mission delivery.”
Glenn, the former Pantex Site Office manager, was bid as the Pantex operations manager after he was lured away from Babcock & Wilcox by CNS partner Lockheed Martin in March 2012, just as bids were initially due on the Y-12/Pantex contract, but he became embroiled in a lawsuit in which B&W alleged that he stole trade secrets upon his departure from the company. Glenn largely denied the accusations, but later admitted he kept several thumb drives containing B&W information after initially saying he had turned over all B&W information. As a result, a Virginia Circuit Court judge issued an injunction last year preventing Glenn from working for Bechtel, Lockheed Martin or any LLC or joint venture of which they are a part that involves B&W trade secrets.
CNS Downgraded Due to Glenn, But Still Awarded Contract
Glenn’s conduct was raised in a protest of the NNSA’s award to CNS by B&W-led Nuclear Production Partners. B&W argued that the NNSA hadn’t taken into account information about Glenn when making its decision, but the Government Accountability Office noted in its dismissal of the team’s third protest that Source Selection Authority Bob Raines awarded a slight advantage to Nuclear Production Partners in the evaluation of key personnel and oral presentations. The GAO said the SSA ruled that Glenn’s conduct “is inconsistent with DOE/NNSA’s focus on full transparency’ and removed a previously-assigned CNS strength.”
Glenn to Serve Different Role for CNS
Reichert is believed to have been approached by CNS since transition to the new contract began in late March—after the B&W-led team decided to stop fighting for the contract. It is unclear when it was decided that Glenn would not manage Pantex operations for CNS, but Bohne said Glenn would still have a place at CNS and will serve as the head of the contractor’s Facilities Management organization. “A key component of our contract is determining cost savings that can be reinvested into the facilities and infrastructure at both sites—many of which date to the 1940s and 1950s,” Bohne said. “There are many critical facility and infrastructure needs that must be addressed to ensure sustainable, safe, and secure operations at both sites.”
Bohne said Glenn’s time as the Pantex Site Office manager would play an important role in his new position. “When Dan managed Pantex, he was the customer for the facilities and understands the needs well,” Bohne said. “His knowledge and experience will be valuable as he manages potential cost savings and investments into the infrastructure and facilities at both sites.” Babcock & Wilcox spokeswoman Aimee Mills declined to address any specifics, saying only that “both sides are working through personnel moves and that will continue through the end of transition.”
Will CNS Be Penalized for Switch?
It’s unclear if CNS will be penalized for switching out Glenn, though a clause in the company’s contract would appear to allow the National Nuclear Security Administration to take action due to the change. The contract states that unless a change is approved in advance by the contracting officer, if any key personnel are “removed, replaced, or diverted by the Contractor for reasons under the Contractor’s control” in the first two years of the contract the company forfeits two years of the reimbursable annual salary, bonuses and relocation costs in fee for that position, which could amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars. The NNSA did not respond to a request for comment.
