The Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy this week tapped longtime nuclear complex supervisor Josh Jarrell to become deputy assistant secretary for nuclear fuel cycle.
Separately two industry sources have told Exchange Monitor in the past week that Office of Nuclear Energy executive, Paul Murray, is moving over to DOE’s Office of Environmental Management.
DOE’s communications office did not immediately respond to a Monitor request for confirmation on the Murray move.
“It’s an incredibly exciting time for the nuclear industry, marked by new reactor deployments, securing and strengthening the domestic fuel supply and closing the fuel cycle,” Jarrell said in a Wednesday LinkedIn post.
“I look forward to collaborating with industry, national labs and universities as we work together to accelerate nuclear innovation and demonstrate new and exciting nuclear technologies,” Jarrell added.
The lead for nuclear fuel cycle directs research and development for nuclear fuel technologies, supports the nuclear supply chain and waste management and facility operations. Jarrell will take over for Florie Knauf, who has been the acting lead for nuclear fuel cycle at Nuclear Energy since March 2025.
Prior to his appointment, Jarrell worked at DOE’s Idaho National Laboratory (INL) for several years. He also worked several years at DOE’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).
Many of Jarrell’s roles at INL and ORNL focused on used fuel management as he formerly managed the used fuel management department at INL. Jarrell most recently worked as the division director of fuel cycle science and technology at INL, according to his LinkedIn account.
Along with Jarrell’s appointment to the Office of Nuclear Energy, Murray, the deputy assistant secretary for spent fuel and high-level waste disposition, will move to a role in DOE’s Office of Environmental Management, according to industry sources. Murray recently informed his staff of the move, sources said.
Murray will move to a senior advisor to EM head Tim Walsh. In his new capacity, Murray is expected to serve as a point of contact for industry members interested in building reactors or data centers on DOE land, sources said..
Murray joined the Office of Nuclear Energy in 2023 after working at Orano Federal Services as its chief technology officer.