DOE Carlsbad Field Office Manager Leaving for Hanford Position

Joe Franco is stepping down as head of the Department of Energy’s Carlsbad Field Office, which oversees the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, to take a senior position at DOE’s Richland Operations Office, according to a message acting DOE cleanup chief Mark Whitney sent to employees yesterday. Franco is leaving the Carlsbad Field Office for “a variety of personal reasons,” Whitney said in his message, going on to say, “I want to thank Joe for his unwavering commitment to the essential mission of WIPP, to his workforce, and to the Carlsbad community.” Franco has served as Manager of the Carlsbad Field Office since the fall of 2011, and is no stranger to Hanford, having previously served as Assistant Manager for the River Corridor at the Richland office.

WIPP has come under heavy scrutiny since two incidents, including a radiological release, occurred in early 2014 that led to the ongoing shutdown of the facility. The exact timing of Franco’s departure is unclear. DOE plans to publicly post the position of Carlsbad Field Office manager for competition, and “Joe will continue to support the Carlsbad Field Office to ensure a smooth transition to a new Manager,” Whitney said in his message. At the Richland Operations Office, Franco will hold the position of Assistant Manager for Mission Support , currently held by Karen Flynn, who will move to the new position of “DOE Hanford Senior Manager” responsible for planning the next set of Hanford cleanup contracts to replace those set to expire in the 2017-2019 timeframe, according to Whitney’s message.