The Senate took a major step forward yesterday toward approving Daniel Santos to serve on the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, voting to end debate on the nomination. The move all but assures that Santos will be confirmed by the Senate as early as today. Santos was nominated by the Obama Administration in June to serve on the DNFSB. He currently serves as a Senior Technical Advisor at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Also yesterday, DNFSB Chairman Peter Winokur informed Board staff that he will retire effective Jan. 3, 2015. Winokur announced in October that he would not seek renomination to the Board, and he had sought to serve until Santos was confirmed to ensure the Board had at least three members. Winokur’s four-year appointment as chairman expired Oct. 18, but he remained eligible to stay on until a new person was nominated to take his place. He has served on the DNFSB since 2006, first as a member and starting in 2010 as its chairman.