The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has appointed former NRC staffer Anna Bradford to lead its Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, effective in May.
Bradford is currently director of the Division of Nuclear Installation Safety at the International Atomic Energy Agency. Jeremy Groom, who is serving as the acting director of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, will continue in his capacity until Bradford comes in.
Groom will also serve as the acting director of the new Office of Chief Nuclear Reactor Inspector, which will be created as a part of the agency’s reorganization, according to NRC’s March 5 press release.
NRC said as a part of its ongoing reorganization, the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation will continue “to manage functions such as operating reactor license renewals and amendments, as well as the licensing program for nonpower reactors.” Additionally, the office will add functions currently being done by the Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response.
In the new role, Bradford will report to the deputy executive director for Reactors and Preparedness Programs, currently Sabrina Atack.
Bradford previously worked at NRC from 2000 to 2021. She started out as an environmental engineer on decommissioning projects and then went on to hold many high-level management posts such as director of the Division of New and Renewed Licenses. Since 2021, Bradford has worked with IAEA as its director of the Division of Nuclear Installation Safety.
Bradford earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at Virginia Tech and a master’s degree in environmental engineering from Johns Hopkins University. Prior to joining the NRC in 2000, Bradford worked at an engineering consulting firm that worked on nuclear-related projects for the Department of Energy, according to the release.