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Division Spotlight
Fusion Energy
This division promotes the development and timely introduction of fusion energy as a sustainable energy source with favorable economic, environmental, and safety attributes. The division cooperates with other organizations on common issues of multidisciplinary fusion science and technology, conducts professional meetings, and disseminates technical information in support of these goals. Members focus on the assessment and resolution of critical developmental issues for practical fusion energy applications.
Meeting Spotlight
ANS Student Conference 2025
April 3–5, 2025
Albuquerque, NM|The University of New Mexico
Standards Program
The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
Latest Magazine Issues
Apr 2025
Jan 2025
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
May 2025
Nuclear Technology
April 2025
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
General Kenneth Nichols and the Manhattan Project
Nichols
The Oak Ridger has published the latest in a series of articles about General Kenneth D. Nichols, the Manhattan Project, and the 1954 Atomic Energy Act. The series has been produced by Nichols’ grandniece Barbara Rogers Scollin and Oak Ridge (Tenn.) city historian David Ray Smith. Gen. Nichols (1907–2000) was the district engineer for the Manhattan Engineer District during the Manhattan Project.
As Smith and Scollin explain, Nichols “had supervision of the research and development connected with, and the design, construction, and operation of, all plants required to produce plutonium-239 and uranium-235, including the construction of the towns of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and Richland, Washington. The responsibility of his position was massive as he oversaw a workforce of both military and civilian personnel of approximately 125,000; his Oak Ridge office became the center of the wartime atomic energy’s activities.”
General Chair:
Matthew Rasmussen (Senior Vice President, TVA)
Assistant General Chair:
John Crawford (TVA)
Technical Program Chair:
Matthew Kirschenheiter (Director of Design Engineering, TVA)
Assistant Technical Program Chairs:
Dan Churchman (Southern Nuclear)
Dan Doran (Constellation PowerLabs)
Supply Chain Challenges & Opportunities Lead:
Bill Fry (Duke Energy)
Cost Reduction Opportunities Lead:
Tim Schlimpert (MCR Performance Solutions, LLC)
Innovation Roles for Nuclear Lead:
Ken Lowery (Southern Nuclear)
Plant Reliability Lead:
Emmett Wilmes (MPR Associates, Inc.)
Nuclear HR and Working Group Community Practices Lead:
Emily Usset (Accelerant Solutions)
Workforce Development Lead:
Bruce Hennigan (Constellation)
Social Media Chair:
Ben Hunt (TVA)
Golf Chair:
Greg Keller (Curtiss Wright)
Knowledge Managers:
Mikayla Florez (Luminant)
Elizabeth Pawlak (NextEra Energy)
Cameron Khanpour (Southern)
Elias Ramos-Ibarra (University of Texas at El Paso)
Shahrukh Nasim Khan (Department of Energy)
Wale Adeyinka (MCR Performance Solutions)
Organizer Biographies
General Chair
Matt Rasmussen is TVA’s Senior Vice President, Engineering and Operations Support. Matt reports to Tim Rausch, Chief Nuclear Officer.
Rasmussen has 20 years of experience in engineering, maintenance, work control training, and operations management at both boiling water reactor facilities (BWR) and pressurized water reactor (PWR) facilities.
Matt started his career at Browns Ferry in 2002 as a Maintenance Engineer. He served in multiple positions before being promoted to the Shift Manager role in 2009. In 2010, Matt advanced to the Operations Superintendent position and later spent 2 years as the Director of Work Management at the station where he was part of the senior management team that recovered the station from Column 4 and INPO Policy Note 14. Matt transitioned to Sequoyah Nuclear Plant where he led the Maintenance organization prior to being promoted to the Plant Manager and then Site Vice President in 2019.
Matt returned to Browns Ferry as the Site Vice President in October 2020 and most recently led the station through a WANO evaluation resulting in an Exemplary rating – the highest rating awarded in our industry. He is passionate about community engagement and giving back to the communities around our nuclear stations. Matt moved to the Nuclear Fleet Center as the Vice President, Engineering and Operations Support August 2022.
Rasmussen entered into the license class and obtained his Senior Reactor Operator License. He is a graduate of TVA’s Advanced Leadership Program and INPO’s Senior Nuclear Plant Management Program and Senior Nuclear Executive Program. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Auburn University in Alabama.
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