ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Division Spotlight
Operations & Power
Members focus on the dissemination of knowledge and information in the area of power reactors with particular application to the production of electric power and process heat. The division sponsors meetings on the coverage of applied nuclear science and engineering as related to power plants, non-power reactors, and other nuclear facilities. It encourages and assists with the dissemination of knowledge pertinent to the safe and efficient operation of nuclear facilities through professional staff development, information exchange, and supporting the generation of viable solutions to current issues.
Meeting Spotlight
Conference on Nuclear Training and Education: A Biennial International Forum (CONTE 2025)
February 3–6, 2025
Amelia Island, FL|Omni Amelia Island Resort
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
Jan 2025
Jul 2024
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
February 2025
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
A series of firsts delivers new Plant Vogtle units
Southern Nuclear was first when no one wanted to be.
The nuclear subsidiary of the century-old utility Southern Company, based in Atlanta, Ga., joined a pack of nuclear companies in the early 2000s—during what was then dubbed a “nuclear renaissance”—bullish on plans for new large nuclear facilities and adding thousands of new carbon-free megawatts to the grid.
In 2008, Southern Nuclear applied for a combined construction and operating license (COL), positioning the company to receive the first such license from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in 2012. Also in 2008, Southern became the first U.S. company to sign an engineering, procurement, and construction contract for a Generation III+ reactor. Southern chose Westinghouse’s AP1000 pressurized water reactor, which was certified by the NRC in December 2011.
Fast forward a dozen years—which saw dozens of setbacks and hundreds of successes—and Southern Nuclear and its stakeholders celebrated the completion of Vogtle Units 3 and 4: the first new commercial nuclear power construction project completed in the U.S. in more than 30 years.
2020 ANS Virtual Winter Meeting Plenary Session Speaker
Integrated Security Solutions
Associate Labs Director
Sandia National Laboratories
As Associate Labs Director for Integrated Security Solutions, Andrew McIlroy provides leadership and management direction for Sandia’s California Laboratory and the Energy and Earth Systems Center, which includes staff in New Mexico, Texas, and Alaska. In addition, he has primary responsibility for Sandia’s Energy and Homeland Security mission portfolio, as well as for California weapon systems and component engineering. Previously, Andy was Director of the Energy and Homeland Security Program Management Center and Deputy Associate Labs Director for Integrated Security Solutions. In this role, Andy led business operations for Integrated Security Solutions and managed Sandia’s Energy and Homeland Security Program portfolio. Andy’s Sandia career began in 1991 as a Combustion Research Facility postdoctoral researcher. He joined The Aerospace Corporation in 1993 and returned to Sandia in 1997 as a technical staff member in the Combustion Chemistry and Diagnostics Department. Andy served as Manager for both the Combustion Chemistry and Diagnostics and the Reacting Flows Research departments, Senior Manager for Chemical Sciences, and Acting Director of the Materials Science Center. As Senior Manager for Livermore Valley Open Campus (LVOC) Development, Andy developed the physical and operational infrastructure for LVOC, a joint initiative of Sandia and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to create an accessible, common campus to foster domestic and international partnerships with industry and academia. Andy also created programs to take advantage of the LVOC. Andy became Senior Manager for Science-Enabled Engineering and led Verification and Validation for Sandia’s Advanced Simulation and Computing Program. As Deputy Chief Technology Officer for Sandia and Director of Research Strategy and Partnership, Andy led Sandia’s Laboratory Directed Research and Development Program, academic and industrial partnerships, and tech transfer programs. Andy has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry with honors and distinction from Harvey Mudd College and a PhD in chemical physics from the University of Colorado. He cochaired the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Basic Research Needs Workshop for Clean and Efficient Combustion of 21st-Century Transportation Fuels, coordinated the DOE Workshop on Predictive Simulation for Internal Combustion Engines, and has authored 40 peer-reviewed journal articles.
Last modified November 4, 2020, 11:33am EST
