Smith, who has been a resident inspector at NFS since 2006 and Chitty joined the NRC in 2003 as an operator licensing examiner
- By Stephen Heiser -
Nuclear Regulatory Commission officials in Atlanta have named Galen Smith as the new senior resident inspector at Nuclear Fuel Services. In addition, Mark Chitty was selected as the second resident inspector at the Erwin, Tenn., fuel fabrication facility.
Smith, who has been a resident inspector at NFS since 2006, replaces Steve Burris, who retired in early December. Chitty moves to NFS from the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, a uranium enrichment facility near Paducah, Ky., where he has been an NRC resident inspector since 2006.
Smith joined the NRC in 2001 as a project engineer in the Division of Reactor Projects in the NRC’s Region I in King of Prussia, Pa. From 2002-2006, he was the resident inspector at the Beaver Valley nuclear power station in Shippingport, Pa.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Duke University and a master of engineering degree in electrical engineering from the University of South Florida. Before joining the NRC, Smith worked for Lucent Technologies and later as a control room supervisor for Florida Power & Light’s St. Lucie nuclear power station.
Chitty joined the NRC in 2003 as an operator licensing examiner in the agency’s Region II offices in Atlanta. He moved to the Paducah facility three years later. Prior to joining the agency, Chitty served as a nuclear-trained submarine operator for the U.S. Navy. He holds a bachelor of science degree from the University of the State of New York.
“Galen Smith and Mark Chitty are experienced inspectors committed to safety,” said NRC Region II Administrator Luis Reyes. “Together, they will work to carry out the NRC mission of protecting people and the environment by helping ensure the safe operation of Nuclear Fuel Services.”
NRC resident inspectors serve as the agency’s eyes and ears at some fuel fabrication facilities and all commercial nuclear power plants. They conduct inspections, monitor major work projects and interact with plant workers and the public. Resident inspectors can serve at one site for up to seven years.
Chitty has begun his assignment at NFS, joining Smith and Site Secretary Ginger Morrell. The resident inspectors can be reached at 423-735-0544.