After being sworn in as a commissioner just last month, President Donald Trump has picked Ho Nieh to serve as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s chairman effective Thursday Jan. 8.
David Wright, appointed chairman in January 2025, will be replaced by Nieh, but will still stay and serve as a commissioner, according to NRC’s Thursday press release.
“It is an honor to have been designated as the Chairman of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission,” Nieh said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to serve again at this agency that shaped my career and commitment to nuclear safety. I also appreciate the leadership of previous Chairman David Wright in guiding the NRC through a crucial period of transition as the agency embarks on this pivotal period of change.”
Barring any personnel shakeup, Nieh will lead a full five-member Commission composed of commissioners Bradley Crowell, Matthew Marzano, Douglas Weaver and Wright.
NRC did undergo a shakeup in 2025 when Joe Biden-appointed NRC chair Christopher Hanson was terminated from NRC by Trump. Republican commissioner Annie Caputo also resigned last year.
Prior to Nieh’s appointment at NRC, he worked at the independent agency for over 20 years. While employed at NRC, Nieh was the director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, which he was responsible for reactor safety licensing and oversight programs for operating and new reactors, according to the release.
Nieh also recently worked at Southern Nuclear as the vice president of regulatory affairs.
The U.S. Nuclear Industry Council CEO Todd Abrajano applauded the selection of Nieh as NRC Chairman.
“As demand for clean, reliable power grows, the NRC’s mission to uphold the highest safety standards while enabling the next generation of nuclear technologies has never been more important,” Abrajano said in a Thursday statement. “I have no doubt that Chairman Nieh’s experience in both domestic and international nuclear regulation positions him well to guide the agency through this new era of nuclear deployment.
Nieh, who was nominated to be an NRC commissioner in July 2025, will serve the remainder of Hanson’s term that expires June 30, 2029.