DOE LOOKS TO NNSA TO FILL ROLE OF OAK RIDGE CLEANUP CHIEF

The Department of Energy has tapped a senior official within the National Nuclear Security Administration to head up cleanup efforts at Oak Ridge. Yesterday, DOE announced that Mark Whitney, who currently serves as acting NNSA Principal Assistant Deputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, would serve as Assistant Manager for Environmental Management at the Oak Ridge Operations Office, effective in August. “Mark is an engaging leader with a broad understanding of DOE-wide programs and policies and has a history of proven success developing and implementing strategies to improve organizational performance,” DOE Senior Advisor for Environmental Management David Huizenga said in a release. “I am pleased Mark has agreed to take on this important role and devote his talents to the nuclear waste cleanup mission in his home state of Tennessee.”

At Oak Ridge, Whitney will replace Sue Cange, who has been serving as the Oak Ridge Assistant Manager for Environmental Management since last October and will continue in her role as Deputy Assistant Manager. According to the DOE release, Whitney has been “a member of the U.S. Government’s Senior Executive Service since 2005, serving in various positions at DOE headquarters and internationally.” Notably, Whitney has held Huizenga’s old position in NNSA in an acting capacity since last July, when Huizenga was named to head up DOE’s Office of Environmental Management. Whitney’s other DOE positions have included serving as NNSA Assistant Deputy Administrator for Nonproliferation and International Security and as Executive Director of the Department’s Moscow office.

When asked about Whitney’s cleanup-related experience, a DOE official said yesterday, “Mark’s prior experience with the EM program includes work for Global Strategies Consulting, LLC, as President which included support for the DOE EM program. Before that Mark worked for SAIC supporting DOE clients on Environmental Management activities. This included identifying technology gaps in the EM program and finding potential solutions.” The official added, “The work of EM at Oak Ridge requires understanding of and coordination with the other DOE mission offices. Mark has experience working on NE, EM, SC, EERE, NNSA and other DOE programs. Mark has experience leading complex domestic and international projects to successful completion.”