Nuclear Regulatory Commission officials in Atlanta have selected Galen Smith as the senior resident inspector for the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Sequoyah nuclear power plant, near Soddy Daisy. Mr. Smith joins NRC Resident Inspector Wesley Deschaine.
Mr. Smith has been the NRC senior resident inspector at the Nuclear Fuel Services facility in Erwin, Tn., since 2009 and was the resident inspector at NFS for three years before assuming that position.
Mr. Smith joined the NRC in 2001 as a project engineer in the Division of Reactor Projects in the NRC’s Region I in King of Prussia, Pa. From 2002-2006, he was the resident inspector at the Beaver Valley nuclear power station in Shippingport, Pa.
He earned a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from Duke University and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of South Florida. His experience prior to joining the NRC included stints as an operations manager for Lucent Technologies, a control room supervisor at Florida Power & Light’s St. Lucie nuclear power plant and a nuclear submarine officer in the U.S. Navy. Smith is also a licensed professional engineer in Florida.
“Galen Smith has the experience and sense of duty needed to carry out the NRC mission of protecting people and the environment by helping to ensure the safety of the Sequoyah plant,” said NRC Region II Administrator Victor McCree.
At least two NRC resident inspectors are assigned to each operating U.S. commercial nuclear plant. They serve as the agency's eyes and ears at the facility, conducting inspections, monitoring major work projects and interacting with plant workers and the public. Resident inspectors can serve at a reactor site for up to seven years.
The Sequoyah resident inspectors can be reached at 423 842-8001.