NS&D Monitor
8/28/2015
IN INDUSTRY
Longenecker & Associates announced yesterday the addition of Laurie Judd as director of technology and international programs. Judd previously served as vice president of government programs for NuVision Engineering and as manager of aerospace and defense technologies for UKAEA/AEA Technology, Culham. According Longenecker President John Longenecker, the company was impressed with Judd’s experience in both international technology transfer and commercialization and implementation of “first-of-a-kind” technologies. “Laurie brings decades of outstanding experience and insight to the L&A team and our clients. We are excited about working with him to determine how best to apply the most effective technology to each of the challenges that our clients face each day,” Longenecker said in a statement.
Consolidated Nuclear Security, the contract operator of the Y-12 and Pantex sites, said this week it had named Ken Guess the director of nuclear safety oversight. Guess’ most recent position was as power ascension test director in the operational readiness department at the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Watts Bar Nuclear Unit 2, and he served 25 years as a submarine officer in the Navy. “I’m excited to be starting a second career here,” Guess said in a statement. “Organizations that have aging infrastructures like Y-12 and Pantex have challenges. My goal is to continue the focus on the mission, ensuring we’re all doing the best job we can for the security of our country….As a strategic weapons officer on a missile submarine, we were ready to execute. I never even remotely doubted that the weapons systems would work as advertised.”
Bill Heineken, CNS’ director of nuclear operations support, said in a statement he likes that Guess was an “end user” of weapons produced at Y-12 and Pantex. “Ken’s role is to integrate and execute the nuclear safety role and conduct of operations at the enterprise level,” Heineken said. “In searching for someone to hold this role, we wanted to make sure we had the right person to meet this challenge.”
The Energy Department has awarded Consolidated Nuclear Security its small business Mentor of the Year award for its work at Y-12 National Security Complex, according to an Aug. 10 CNS press release. The Mentor-Protégé Program was implemented to build lasting relationships between small businesses and DOE prime contractors. Mentors were recognized for exceeding the requirements of their Mentor-Protégé Agreement and for committing to enhance their protégés’ ability to work federal contracts. “It makes me very proud to be a part of CNS,” said Y-12 Small Business Program Manager Lisa Copeland. “Receiving this award is a reflection of CNS’ commitment, willingness and ability to support the small business community.” One of Y-12’s proteges, BES Technologies, was recognized this summer for recycling 1 million gallons of radiological wastewater through its laundry operations at East Tennessee Technology Park, according to the release.
IN THE INTERAGENCY
The National Technical Nuclear Forensics Ground Collections Task Force, comprised of officials from the Defense and Energy departments, the FBI, and the Homeland Security Department’s Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, this week participated in a land-based and maritime exercise that simulated a nuclear detonation near the ocean. In Exercise Prominent Hunt 15-2, participants worked with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department in deploying air assets capable of detecting aerial radiation and mapping equipment to determine levels of radiation from a nuclear blast. DOE flew its Aerial Measuring System equipment on fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, according to the release.
