Patrick Snouffer named 2021 American Nuclear Society Congressional Fellow
La Grange Park, IL – The American Nuclear Society (ANS) has selected Patrick Snouffer as the 2020 recipient of the Glenn T. Seaborg Congressional Science and Engineering Fellowship. Snouffer is currently a senior nuclear engineer at Bechtel National, Inc. in Reston, Va.
“Patrick is in a unique position to provide significant technical assistance to U.S. Congress on nuclear energy, particularly now as there are important discussions that will shape the future of U.S. energy policy,” said Harsh S. Desai, Chair of the ANS Congressional Fellowship Committee, and a former Fellow himself.
“Members of Congress and their staff will greatly benefit from Patrick’s depth of experience in all aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle,” explained Desai. “The Fellowship will also be an opportunity for Patrick to develop his policy expertise and learn ‘how the sausage is made.’ ”
Snouffer started his professional career at Sandia National Laboratories as the reactor engineer at the Annular Core Research Reactor. He began at Bechtel in 2015, where he has worked on the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Waste Treatment Plant, advanced reactor development, and the DOE Versatile Test Reactor Project. Snouffer obtained his Professional Engineering license in Nuclear Engineering in 2016. He earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in nuclear engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2011.
"I am very honored to have been selected as the 2021 ANS Congressional Fellow,” said Snouffer. “I am excited to continue the important policy work and build off the successes of the past Fellows. As climate and energy policy continue to take shape at the national level, I am looking forward to ensuring nuclear will be a major part of the discussion.”
Since the start of the Glenn T. Seaborg Congressional Science and Engineering Fellowship in 2000, the program has given nuclear professionals the opportunity to learn how legislative policymaking affects nuclear science, energy, and technology. The unique, year-long fellowship allows those professionals to work directly with members of Congress and their staff on critical nuclear policy decisions.
“From my experience with ANS over time, I’ve seen the Congressional Fellowship program continue to evolve and create opportunities for members of the ANS community,” said John Starkey, ANS director of government relations. “ANS Congressional Fellows are given the chance to provide counsel on the advancement of nuclear technology to lawmakers in Washington, D.C.”
“ANS has seen many of its former Congressional Fellows continue their work in our Nation’s Capital even after their Fellowships have ended,” continued Starkey. ”This aspect of the program allows ANS to continue providing technical support and background for policies that advance nuclear science and technology.”
“I welcome Patrick to our ANS Congressional Fellowship family and I’m excited to have him walking the hallways of Capitol Hill in 2021,” added Starkey.
Snouffer began his involvement in ANS as a member of the University of Wisconsin Student Section. In 2019, he was on the ANS Young Professional Congress Program Committee and joined the ANS Young Members Group Executive Committee in 2020. He is also a member of the working group helping to develop ANS standard 15.22. Snouffer will serve as the Young Professionals Congress co-chair in 2021.
Established in 1954, ANS is an international professional organization of engineers and scientists devoted to the peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology. Its more than 9,500 members represent government, academia, research laboratories, medical facilities, and private industry. ANS’s mission is to advance, foster, and spur the development and application of nuclear science, engineering, and technology to benefit society.
Media Contact
Andrew Smith | media@ans.org
