The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has selected John Tappert as director of its Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research.
Tappert, who has been serving as the acting office director and previously as the office’s deputy director, was promoted to this role effective Sept. 7, according to a NRC’s Sept. 10 press release.
Tappert has been the acting director since January 2024 after then office director Raymond Furstenau stepped in as NRC executive director of operations. Furstenau later retired from the NRC in July 2024.
Tappert joined the NRC in 1991 as a reactor engineer in Region I. He held numerous roles with the agencies within its Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation and the then-Office of New Reactors. The Office of New Reactors merged with the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation in October 2019.
Tappert also served as chief of staff to commissioner William Ostendorff.
“John Tappert has done an outstanding job in an acting capacity as head of the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research and we are pleased he will now assume this job permanently,” NRC chair David Wright said in the press release. “John brings a deep understanding of the importance of this office along with proven leadership abilities.”
The Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research handles and conducts the research to provide technical advice and information to support the NRC’s mission to license and regulate U.S. civilian use of nuclear materials.
Tappert earned a bachelor’s degree in Aerospace and Ocean Engineering from Virginia Tech and a master’s degree in Environmental Engineering from John Hopkins University. He also holds a professional engineer’s license.
Prior to his time with the NRC, Tappert served in the Navy’s nuclear power program.