BWXT taps new chief strategy officer to report to CEO

Rik Geiersbach was just appointed chief strategy officer for BWX Technologies and will report directly to CEO Rex Geveden, the nuclear fuel company announced Monday on its website.

“As chief strategy officer, Rik will lead the development, execution and integration of BWXT’s enterprise strategy and merger and acquisition initiatives,” Geveden said in the release. “His deep experience in driving organic and inorganic growth initiatives will help secure our competitive positioning in the global security, clean energy, and nuclear medicine markets we serve, as well as align our strategic priorities going forward.” 

Geierbach most recently worked at Boeing as the defense contractor’s vice president of strategy and corporate development, according to the release. His 30 years in the defense industry also includes time as the corporate director of strategic alliances at Northrop Grumman.

Prior to his career, Geiersbach earned a master’s degree in business administration from the Anderson School of Management from the University of California, Los Angeles. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Harvard University.

Lynchburg, Va.-based BWXT, alongside its work in nuclear fuel, has a virtual monopoly on the naval-nuclear reactors used in U.S. naval warships and submarines, including the Virginia-class submarines that will be sold to Australia as part of the trilateral AUKUS deal among Australia, the U.K. and the U.S. 

A naval nuclear reactor is an assembly requiring highly enriched uranium fuel, which BWXT produces along with other reactor parts in its facilities in Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee and Virginia. BWXT acquired 97 acres of land in Oak Ridge, Tenn. in May after it was announced that the company would likely be awarded a sole source contract for a Domestic Uranium Enrichment Pilot Plant.