INSIDE:

2 Spotlight On How Safe Is Safe? Ask A Health Physicist

3 The NRC in Our Lives Federal Primer

4 Hello…My Name Is Greg Suber About the NRC

GREETINGS

Welcome back to RE:ACTIONS, the NRC e-newsletter covering the many aspects, initiatives, and staff perspectives on the NRC mission.

As we leave summer behind and begin a new school year, we’re taking a closer look at the people who get closer to the heart of the nuclear matter than perhaps many of us may care to — the intrepid Health Physicists. Be sure to check out our look into the work of NRC Health Physicists on page 2, including how a special program at one Georgia state school provides a solid foundation for these brave, bright minds.

In this issue, we also begin a new series on the various NRC office locations nationwide and share an update on the NRC’s latest efforts to ensure optimal workforce planning. Ever wonder what public service is really all about? See our story on page 3 — and meet one of NRC’s finest civil servants, Greg Suber, who on page 4 shares his personal reflections on what has helped drive and sustain his rise to NRC senior leadership.

Please also remember to kindly forward RE:ACTIONS to any student/alumni groups or campus organizations that may be interested in learning more about the NRC mission of safety and its award-winning work environment — or to connect with us via any of our links on page 4.

Here’s to a successful autumn school season!

VOLUME 4, ISSUE 2, FALL 2015DEADLINES: NSPDP vacancy announcement: Applications accepted: August 31st – October 22nd, 2015

2016 Summer Internship: Applications accepted: August 31st – November 18th, 2015

Honor Law Graduate Program Applications accepted: September 1st – September 30th, 2015

INSIDE THE NRC TAKING AIM TOWARD THE FUTURE This June, the NRC took the next step to implement its Project Aim 2020 workforce shaping initiative and make it a key element of the NRC mission. The project essentially seeks to ensure optimal agency resource levels and workforce staffing into the future. The NRC’s Executive Director for Operations (EDO) established Project Aim 2020 in coordination with the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in June 2014 to enhance the agency’s ability to plan and execute its mission while adapting in a timely and effective manner to a dynamic environment. Based on analysis of perspectives gathered from NRC external and internal resources regarding the NRC workload and operating environment in 2020; literature review; and the evaluation of the NRC’s current state compared to its future state, the Project Aim 2020 team identified key strategies and recommendations to transform the agency over the next five years to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and agility of the NRC to meet its vital mission.

SPOTLIGHT ON:

Minority Serving

Institutions Program

(MSIP)

In addition to its Nuclear Education Program and Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES) Financial Assistance Program, the NRC’s Minority Serving Institutions Program (MSIP) is another Grant Program vehicle that provides opportunities for interested parties to contribute to the NRC mission.

Minority Serving Institutions are renowned colleges and universities with an historic tradition or mandate to serve students in a specific demography and include: Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs). MSIP assistance to these institutions includes mentoring, leadership development, training, instruction, developmental learning, research and development, program evaluation, and technical assistance. MSIP also provides assistance to include direct institutional subsidies, facilities and equipment acquisition, internships, fellowships, scholarships, and tuition and housing assistance.

An example of MSIP in action is the NRC support for the CDEP program at Fort Valley State University (see story, right). For more information, please visit www.nrc.gov.

Other NRC programs include:

GRANT PROGRAMS

• Nuclear Education Program - Scholarship and Fellowship - Curricula Development - Trade School and Community

College Scholarship

• Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES) Financial Assistance Program

STUDENT PROGRAMS• Co-Operative Education Program (Co-Op)• Summer Internship Program• Office of General Counsel Internship Program

ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS• Disability Employment Program• Nuclear Safety Professional Development Program (NSPDP) • Veteran’s Employment Initiative

At the center of the NRC mission of protecting people and the environment is the responsibility to protect the public from radiation at power plants, throughout various applications of nuclear medicine, and during the disposal of nuclear waste. This is the role of the NRC Health Physicist.

“Health Physicists are the folks who focus on the physical effects of radiation on the body and to make certain that wherever radioactive material is used, it is used safely and responsibly,” explains Greg Suber, NRC Acting Deputy Director for the Division of Reactor Safety.

Since 2012, as NRC University Co-Champion for Fort Valley State University (FVSU) just south of Atlanta, GA, Suber has

actively worked to help develop next-generation scientists and mathematicians who are part of a highly competitive public-private partnership program called the Cooperative Developmental Energy Program (CDEP). Many of these CDEP graduates go on to pursue bachelor’s degrees in Health Physics as part of a joint-program between FVSU and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV).

“CDEP is a fully-funded 3/2 program,” notes Suber. “Qualified students must maintain a 3.0 GPA over their first three years to earn their first bachelor’s in math or science, then go on to a second school for two years to earn a second bachelor’s degree. And NRC is especially interested in those students graduating with that second degree in Health Physics from UNLV — one of the nation’s top Health Physics programs.”

According to Suber, the NRC looks to hire both industrial and medical Health Physicists. Suber, who is no stranger to the safety needs of dealing with nuclear waste disposal notes, “When you’re suiting up to go into a spent core, you want your Health Physicist there … to have their calibrated equipment and understand what kinds of hazards you’re going to be exposed to and what precautions you should take to mitigate those hazards. Health Physicists are integral to keeping us safe at power plants and ensuring safety everywhere for the public as well.”

What qualities does the NRC look for when hiring Health Physicists? “Strong communication and presentation skills; activity on campus in industry-related societies; and emotional intelligence,” responds Suber. “We want people who deal with conflict in a positive way, and who can address a broad array of constituents, especially those working above and below them. In this field especially, we need people who have an appropriate proportionality of response to a conflict and who can engage people to work in a group.”

Suber also notes that newcomers can look forward to a good amount of international interaction working at the NRC. “The Health Physicist community is an international community. You have emerging nations trying to build reactor programs. You have nations that are industrializing and dealing with their own health challenges, and now they’re going to have to learn how to use these radioactive materials that, if handled well, can be very beneficial to their countries, but, if mishandled, could be a disaster.”

“This is a very good time for Health Physicists with good technical skills and good interpersonal skills,” adds Suber. “It’s a field that’s opening up worldwide, so those who get in now have the ability to leverage their careers not just at a national scale but even on an international scale. Bottom line is that there are great opportunities for it to be a very fascinating career.”

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HOW SAFE IS SAFE? ASK A HEALTH PHYSICIST.

FEDERAL PRIMER

America’s Civil Service: Here’s why you want to be part of it.

Every day, the 2.0 million men and women of the U.S. Federal Civilian (non-uniformed) Service attend to America’s needs for safety, security, and prosperity. Their reasons for choosing to serve as a Civil Servant are as rich and varied as the myriad experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives they bring to their jobs — which, by the way, make for a pretty awesome work environment each and every day.

The Federal and private sectors compete vigorously for the best and the brightest minds in virtually every occupational category. A career in the U.S. Civil Service, however, offers numerous advantages, from excellent benefits for health insurance, life insurance, long-term disability, and retirement, to opportunities for continuous growth and development through training programs and education subsidies. Federal workers also enjoy the benefits of efforts that promote a positive work/life balance, flexible work schedules, and numerous programs to support family members as well — and should they decide to break their service temporarily and later return to the Civil Service, they can resume their benefits without having to start over.

Perhaps equally compelling is the opportunity the Civil Service offers to give back to one’s country and fellow Americans — to be part of a mission unique to each Federal agency … a charge so revered that it requires every Civil Servant to be sworn in to uphold a Code of Ethics.

As you consider your career options, we urge you to consider service as a civilian employee — for you and your future, your family, and your nation. And we especially urge you to begin your consideration right here at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission — consistently ranked as a top place to work in the Federal Government.

Did you know that the NRC operates its mission of protecting people and the environment across six locations nationwide? In this first of several installments, we will bring you a closer look at NRC’s various operations centers; the roles and responsibilities of each one; and the significance of each location for its respective tasks — beginning below with NRC Headquarters in Rockville, MD.

NRC locations include headquarters, four regional centers, and a national training center:

NRC HEADQUARTERS

The NRC Headquarter complex includes three buildings housing headquarters staff and the NRC Public Document Room.

The Headquarters White Flint North offices are located in suburban Maryland, just outside of Washington, DC. Three major airports and an Amtrak train station

serve the metropolitan area, along with the White Flint Metrorail subway station that provides convenient public transportation for commuters and visitors.

Major program offices within the Headquarters organization include: the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation; the Office of New Reactors; the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards; the Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs; the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research; and the Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response.

Headquarters is also home to the NRC Operations Center, staffed 24 hours a day to monitor events and initiate response activities as well as to coordinate with other Federal agencies if necessary. The facility also conducts regular exercises to test licensee emergency response and uses mock adversaries to test security response.

THE NRC IN OUR LIVES

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Headquarters: Region I:

Region II:Region III:Region IV:

Technical Training Center:

Rockville, MDKing of Prussia, PAAtlanta, GALisle, ILArlington, TXChattanooga, TN

HELLO…MY NAME IS GREG SUBER

As a kid, Greg Suber watched Star Wars and wanted to design intergalactic space vehicles. Instead, he grew up to become NRC Acting Deputy Director for the Division of Reactor Safety — as part of a career that he couldn’t enjoy more.

Greg’s first experience in the nuclear industry came shortly after graduating from Howard

University with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, when he went to work for the Bechtel Power Organization — a world leader and innovator in engineering, construction, and project management. After four years at Bechtel, Greg went on to earn his master’s in Environmental Science from Duke University, graduating in December 1999. He was soon hired by the NRC in 2000 into the NRC Technical Reviewer Program.

Following two years as a technical reviewer, Greg moved into License Renewal, and in 2005 joined NRC’s Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) branch. Now as Acting Deputy Director for the Division of Reactor Safety, Greg oversees six NRC Branch Chiefs, and approximately 60 staffers.

“My responsibilities are very extensive and cover reactor safety, emergency preparedness, and physical protection of the reactors. It’s a huge task, it’s exciting, and sometimes almost intimidating — because you never know what’s going to happen when you walk in the door — there’s a lot going on!”

What does he enjoy most about the job? “The people,” he states without hesitation. “There are brilliant people who work for the NRC and they have a passion for what they do — it’s extremely rewarding to come to work every day and work with an engaged work force. People who are here see the value that they bring to the job and they have a passion for doing it well. Working with quality people also adds purpose to being a public servant.”

Another source of great satisfaction is working with the next generation. “It’s really motivating and it’s good to see the new crop that’s coming up. So many times today they try to put a name on the generation coming up — with names like X-ers, Gen Xers, and a lot of times I think there are over-generalizations made about these kids. When I interact with them what I find is that they’re brilliant, they’re motivated. They care about other people. My interaction has been very positive … so I’d like to continue that as best as I can.”

Greg also notes, “My public service motivation is very high and I feel strongly that ‘to whom much is given, much is expected’ … and I feel this is one way that I give back, through my career and my work here at the NRC.”

Greg, his wife, and family live in Howard County, MD. He has two sons and two daughters, ages 12 through 22.

ABOUT THE NRCThe NRC mission is to license and regulate the Nation’s civilian use of radioactive

materials to protect public health and safety, promote the common defense and security, and protect the environment. Created as an independent agency by Congress in 1974, the NRC ensures the safe use of radioactive materials by regulating commercial nuclear power plants and other uses of nuclear materials through licensing, inspection, and enforcement of its requirements.

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory CommissionOutreach & Recruitment Branch

Washington, DC 20555-0001301-415-7400

CONTACT USBlog: http://public-blog.nrc-gateway.gov/ Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nrcgov/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/nrcgov YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/NRCgov RSS: http://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/listserver.html#rss Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nrcgov LinkedIn: Search: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

OUTREACH & RECRUITMENT TEAM

Kristin Davis: Branch Chief Kristin.Davis@nrc.gov | 301-287-0707

Kimberly English: Recruitment Program Manager Kimberly.English@nrc.gov | 301-287-0711

Peggy Etheridge: Student and Disability Programs Manager Peggy.Etheridge@nrc.gov | 301-287-0712 Kreslyon Fleming: Outreach Coordinator Kreslyon.Fleming@nrc.gov | 301-287-0714

Nancy Hebron-Isreal: Nuclear Education Grants (faculty development & scholarship/ fellowship programs) Nancy.Hebron-Isreal@nrc.gov | 301-287-0718

Tanya Parwani-Jaimes: Nuclear Education Grants (curriculum development programs) Tanya.Parwani-Jaimes@nrc.gov 301-287-0730

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