Christa B. Reed – Operations Director

Ms. Reed joined NFS in December of 2010. She has 22 years of operations, quality control, and nuclear criticality experience. She has been with B&W 15 years and has held various engineering and senior leadership positions at NOG-L in Nuclear Criticality Safety, Uranium Recovery and Downblending Operations, Production Control, and Quality Control. In those previous positions Ms. Reed was responsible for enhancing safety and quality, developing solutions to production challenges, developing improvement strategies for enhancing production, and installing equipment in accordance with NRC and environmental regulations. Her most recent assignment was Project Manager for the Nimitz class aircraft carriers. Ms. Reed has also previously worked at Westinghouse Commercial Nuclear Fuel Division in Columbia, SC, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and the Savannah River Site. She is talented in strategically promoting improvement and using teamwork and common goals to accomplish tasks.

Ms. Reed holds a Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering from North Carolina State University. She has recently served on the Board of Directors of the American Nuclear Society, the Board of Directors of the United Way of Central Virginia, and the Sweet Briar College Engineering Advisory Committee.

Clifton “Gene” E. Athon – Principle Scientist

Mr. Athon has served in various, increasing responsibilities at NFS since 1974. In his current role, he is responsible for all aspects of production, including integrity of process lines, design basis and future development. Mr. Athon created the design for the fuel production process, as well as other integral processes at the facility. Mr. Athon holds a Chemical Engineering Degree from Georgia Institute of Technology, and an MBA from ETSU.

Sheila Lacks - Controller

Ms. Lacks came to NFS in July of 2011 from the B&W offices located in Barberton, Ohio. At B&W, Sheila worked as the Financial Controller for the Central Accounting Services Department for the Power Generation Group (PGG). In that position, she was responsible for all central accounting functions and consolidated financial planning and analysis for the PGG. Previously with B&W, she held the position of Manager of Project Accounting with the Nuclear Power Generation Group (NPGG) in Lynchburg, Virginia. She worked closely with SAP system implementations and expansions during both positions with PGG and NPGG. Sheila earned Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Lynchburg College, a MBA from Virginia Tech’s Pamplin School of Business in Blacksburg, Virginia, and a C.P. A. license in the state of Virginia. As Controller at NFS, she is responsible for the oversight of all the accounting and finance activities for the facility.

Robert C. Birmingham – Human Resources Director

Mr. Birmingham recently joined NFS from Truland Systems Corporation, where he was responsible for developing and managing all aspects of Human Resources. Prior to that position, he served as the Director, Human Resources at Duke Energy Nuclear Division, where he managed all aspects of Human Resources, including the Nuclear Division’s Fuels Group. In this role, he provided day to day support for over 4,000 employees and led a team of 30 Human Resources professionals. Mr. Birmingham holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Lenoir Rhyne Univsersity, and a Senior Professional in Human Resources certificate.

Ronald “Ron” K. Dailey – Engineering Director

Mr. Dailey has managed the Project Engineering function at NFS since 2008, and was named Chief Engineer for the site in 2010.  In this position, he is responsible for all engineering functions and configuration management.  Prior to joining NFS, Mr. Dailey held various engineering, project management, and engineering management positions with Eastman Chemical Company.  He holds a bachelor of mechanical engineering degree from Georgia Tech, and is a Licensed Professional Engineer in the States of Tennessee, South Carolina and Virginia.  He is a member of the American Nuclear Society and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Gary L. Darter – Program Management Director

Mr. Darter created the Program Management Department at NFS starting in the fall of 2009. Prior to this, he held several management positions at Babcock & Wilcox Nuclear Operations Group at Lynchburg, VA, Mr. Darter also served as a project manager for the Department of Defense explosives research and development group at the Naval Weapons Station at Yorktown, VA. Mr. Darter holds a Mechanical Engineering Degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Mark Elliott – Quality, Safety, and Safeguards

Mark P. Elliott has 25 years of executive/senior level management and technical experience. He is currently serving as the Director of the Quality, Safety and Safeguards Department (QSS) for Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc. In this role, Mr. Elliott provides leadership to support the company’s goals and to position the company at the forefront of the industry. Prior to the current role, Mr. Elliott served as Senior Program Manager, Business Development for Babcock & Wilcox Nuclear Operations Group (B&W NOG) In this role he was responsible for developing and overseeing strategy for pursuing and securing new and additional business to support B&W NOG’s growth and strategic initiative goals. During his time in this role, over the most recent two years, Mr. Elliott spent extensive time serving on B&W NOG’s Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc. (NFS) Acquisition Team. As a leadership member of this team, Mr. Elliott led the extensive and comprehensive due diligence efforts, the subsequent onsite integration team, and directed and coordinated the overall site integration plan and schedule.

Prior to serving B&W NOG’s business development and acquisition needs, Mr. Elliott served in several leadership roles with increasing responsibilities within B&W NOG’s Lynchburg facility (NOG-L). Mr. Elliott began at NOG-L serving as the Manager of Licensing and Integrated Safety Analysis. Prior to joining B&W, Mr. Elliott served as Senior Resident Inspector, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and resided full-time at the B&W NOG-L facility in Lynchburg, VA. Mr. Elliott holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia Tech and an Executive Program Certificate from the Darden Graduate School of Business at the University of Virginia.

Robin M. King – Legal Manager

Ms. King came to NFS from the U.S. Department of Energy at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where she served as Assistant General Counsel. In this role, she was responsible for the workers’ compensation claims programs, ethics and compliance and labor and employment law. In her prior position, Robin was an Associate at the private legal firm Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz in Knoxville. She specializes in labor and employment litigation, including FMLA, ADA, USERRA, HIPAA and other labor issues. Robin holds a J.D. from the University of Tennessee, College of Law. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education, graduating with honors from the University of Tennessee. At NFS, Robin will be responsible for risk management for NFS and maintaining legal compliance.

John W. Nagy, CHP – Assurance Director, Radiation Safety Officer, Ethics & Compliance Officer

Mr. Nagy’s current assignment is Assurance Director, Radiation Safety Officer and Ethics & Compliance Officer for NFS. In this capacity, Mr. Nagy oversees the Corrective Actions Program, the Metrics & Assessments Programs, the Employee Concerns Program, the B&W Ethics & Compliance Program, and the Operating Experience Program. Mr. Nagy has 26 years of experience in health physics, with 22 since receiving his Masters degree in Environmental Engineering (Health Physics) from the University of Florida. He has obtained a broad experience in safety and safeguards regulatory affairs, administration, operational and technical health physics, and staff management while working at DuPont's New England Nuclear Corporation, Advanced Recovery Systems, Inc., and Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc. (NFS).

Lauri A. Turpin – Communications Manager

Ms. Turpin has managed all internal and external communications programs at NFS since 2009. Prior to this position, she served as Lead Communications Specialist at the Progress Energy Brunswick Nuclear Plant. At the Brunswick Plant, she was responsible for all internal and external communications and community outreach programs. Prior to this, she served as the Community Manager and Public Affairs Officer for the Air National Guard, stationed at the 122d Fighter Wing in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Lauri is a Captain in the U.S. Air Force Reserves, currently stationed at Pope AFB, NC. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Southern California and her Master’s degree in Writing from Columbia College Chicago, graduating summa cum laude. She is a member of the Public Relations Society of America.