See It, Be It: Pathways to Nuclear Careers

Hope Morrow is Idaho National Laboratory's resident Labor Economist and head of Workforce and Economic Development Programs, leading the regional and community workforce, economic and community college efforts for the lab. Hope comes to INL with vast experience, following her years of service with the Department of Labor in both Idaho and Utah. Hope has been appointed to Idaho's Workforce Development Council by Idaho Governor Brad Little and serves as the council's Policy Committee Chair. Hope co-chairs Idaho's Idaho Advanced Energy Consortium, where she leads industry, education partners, and leadership to make data-driven decisions, regarding workforce and economic needs. She is a current awardee for the Idaho Business Review’s Accomplished Under 40 Award. Hope’s focus is connecting partners across the state and nation on workforce development topics, labor market analysis, regional economic development efforts, and community college development strategies.

Jim Tusar is the Senior Manager of BWR (Boiling Water Reactor) Design and Methods, responsible for the nuclear fuel and reactor core designs and core monitoring systems for fourteen nuclear reactors in Pennsylvania, Illinois, and New York. He previously held a leadership position in the Spent Fuel group. He is also the Innovation Sponsor for the Nuclear Fuels Department.

Jim is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University with a BS in Nuclear Engineering, of Drexel University with an MS in Environmental Engineering, and has a Professional Engineer’s License in Nuclear Engineering. He also has attained certification in the Certified Innovation Mentor Program from the University of Notre Dame and he completed a Certificate Program in Data Analytics from Cornell University. Jim has been recognized for his nuclear industry accomplishments with fourteen (14) Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) Top Innovative Practice (TIP) Awards, 11 as Team Leader, and he also received the 2013 Outstanding Engineering Alumnus Award from Penn State University. He is an appointed member of the Penn State Reactor Safeguards Committee for the Radiation Science & Engineering Center and an elected member of the Board for the Penn State Nuclear Engineering Society (PSNES).

Jim was the Principal Investigator for the Advanced Nuclear Fuel Pellet Design Project by Constellation (formerly Exelon) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory under DOE’s GAIN (Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear) program, receiving a $500,000 total project award. He was also the Principal Investigator for the Enriched Gadolinium Project under DOE’s GAIN program, receiving a $600,000 total project award. He was the Principal Investigator for a DOE FOA (Funding Opportunity Announcement) for Modeling and Analysis of Exelon Boiling Water Reactors for Eigenvalue & Thermal Limits Predictability, which received funding of $5 million.

Jim has been actively engaged in recruiting activities for Constellation at Penn State and other universities, being one of the leads of the internship program. He has coordinated several career development efforts in his Department such as monthly Individual Development Plan reviews, an Acting Manager program and a Mentor-Mentee program. He completed the INPO Next Level Leadership and the INPO First Line Leadership Seminars.

LT Craig Mathew Yaeger currently resides in Memphis, Tennessee as Deputy Director of Nuclear Accessions.

LT Yaeger graduated from Auburn University in May 2018 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and commissioned as a Naval Officer in the United States Navy. In June 2028 he reported to Charleston, SC to commence Nuclear Training and graduated from Nuclear Power School in December 2018, followed by Nuclear Prototype training in June 2019.

From October 2019 to November 2023, LT Yaeger served on the USS HAMPTON, a Los Angeles Class Fast Attack submarine in San Diego, CA, as a Nuclear Officer. While aboard, LT Yaeger served as the Reactor Control Assistant, the Assistant Weapons Officer, and the Communications Officer. During his sea tour, LT Yaeger earned a Master’s degree in Engineering Management from Old Dominion University.

In November 2023, LT Yaeger transferred to Navy Recruiting Command as Deputy Director of Nuclear Accessions. His current position entails teaching, recruiting, and managing college students committed to commissioning as Naval Officers and joining the Navy’s Nuclear Community.