SRNS boss Carr “not politicking for” EM-1 job

ARLINGTON, VA – Dennis Carr, the president and CEO of the prime contractor for the Savannah River Site in South Carolina says he is not seeking to head the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy, although “if asked I would consider it.”

“People keep coming up and asking me that,” Carr told Exchange Monitor Tuesday on the sidelines of the annual Nuclear Deterrence Summit.  “I’ve heard nothing,” the head of Fluor-led Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) said.

Carr’s name has popped up in the weapons complex rumor mill, as someone who the Donald Trump (R) administration might look at to become assistant secretary for environmental management, often referred to as “EM-1.”

“If I was asked, I would consider it,” Carr said, adding he has spent decades around the DOE complex working on nuclear cleanup projects. But, “no. I’m not out politicking for it,” he said.

“I have a day job,” Carr added. 

Anne Marie White, who served 15 months during the first Trump administration, is the last Senate-confirmed assistant secretary for the Environmental Management office.  Since then, Environmental Management has been led by two federal executives, first William (Ike) White and more recently Candice Robertson.

The second Trump administration is not believed to be in any rush to replace Robertson with a political appointee who would need Senate confirmation, according to the sources the Monitor  has spoken with.

As for Carr, he is a Fluor vice president with more than 40 years nuclear experience including many decommissioning, waste management and environmental restoration projects.