• 2008 4D-STW
  • Final Assignment
  • Schedule & Program
  • Staff
  • Sponsors
• Previous Multi-Day STW
  • 2007 4D-STW
  • 2006 3D-STW
• Other Public Education Programs
  

Dr. Ross Anderson
Instructor

Dr. Ross Anderson (Ph.D. and M.E., Nuclear Engineering, UVa; B.S., Applied Mathematics/Physics, Western Michigan U) has more than 25 years experience in Nuclear Probabilistic Risk Assessment, Safety Analysis and Operations with Dominion. He is a licensed Professional Engineer and holds a certificate as a Shift Technical Advisor. He has authored more than a dozen professional journal articles and is a Top Industry Practice(TIP) award winner from the Nuclear Energy Institute. He has taught for Dominion's Nuclear Training Department, the Virginia Commonwealth University Mathematics department and the VCU graduate nuclear engineering program.

Dr. Sama Bilbao y León
Webmaster

Sama is a nuclear engineer working for Dominion in the Nuclear Analysis and Fuel Department. Since March 2008, Sama is taking a sabbatical from Dominion Generation, to work for the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, Austria in the area of innovative nuclear reactor designs and fuel cycles (INPRO). Sama received a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering and a master's degree in Energy Technologies from the Polytechnic University of Madrid. She continued her studies at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, where she completed another master's degree in 1995 and a Ph.D. in 1999, both in the fields of Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics. She completed an MBA at Averett University in 2004. Sama is one of the founders of the North American Young Generation in Nuclear (NA-YGN), and has served as Public Information Chair since its creation until May 2005. In addition, she designed and maintained the NA-YGN website until January 2006. Sama is also an active member of the American Nuclear Society (ANS) since 1995, both nationally and locally. Her dedication to spreading the good news about nuclear earned her the ANS 2002 Public Communications Award.

Dr. Pascal Brocheny
2008 4-Day STW Lead

Pascal is a nuclear engineer, working for AREVA in the New Plant Engineering Department. He received a Bachelor's degree in Applied Physics and a Master's degree in Nuclear Engineering from the Grenoble Institute of Technology, France. He continued his studies at Clemson University, South Carolina, where he completed a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering in 2006. Pascal is currently involved in the detailed design analysis of the US EPR and participates to thermal hydraulic studies on the High-Temperature Reactor Technology. He is an active member of ANS (since 2007), NA-YGN (since 2007), and ASME (since 2002).

Mr. William A. Casino
Instructor

After graduating high school, Bill joined the US Navy's nuclear power propulsion program and became a nuclear plant operator on the surface ship USS Texas. He served in that capacity for 6 years, then worked in the retail auto repair industry while attending college part time. After completing two years of general coursework, Bill quit his job and became a full time student, pursuing his undergraduate degree in nuclear engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He received his degree in 2004 and came to work for AREVA as a nuclear analyst for advanced concept reactor designs. After a year on the job, Bill began coursework for his master's degree in nuclear engineering as a part time distance education student at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. He has been taking classes via the internet while maintaining his career at AREVA for the past three years, and is expected to complete his master's degree in December of 2008.

Dr. Mark Crosthwaite
Instructor

Dr. Mark Crosthwaite is the Program Director of the Nuclear Medicine Technology Program at the Department of Radiation Sciences of the Virginia Commonwealth University. He has a Master's in Education with an emphasis in Occupational Administration (May 1989, University of Louisville). Completed graduate work in school of business administration at Wheeling College. Certificate in Nuclear Medicine Technology, St. Joseph's School of Nuclear Medicine, Paterson, NJ with the clinical rotation based at The Albert Einstein College Hospital, Bronx, New York. Bachelor of Arts in biological sciences at Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa. Scuba Diving Instructor Certification through Scuba Schools International.
Mark accepted his second academic appointment in Louisville KY in 1985 as an Instructor and Program Director of the Nuclear Medicine Technology Program at the University of Louisville. While there he completed his Master's degree, was promoted to Associate Professor and received tenure. The School of Allied Health closed in 2002 and the NMT program made its transition to the community college. Afterwards Mr. Crosthwaite returned to clinical arena prior to accepting his appointment at VCU.
He has also served as a regional president in to different areas of the country for the Society of Nuclear Medicine Technology. Ha been a member of the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board for ten years which included Chairing the organization for a year and a half. He has also lectured for continuing education in his profession.

Mr. Mike Duffey
Instructor

Mike Duffey began his professional career with the United States Army in 1978. He filled postings, both foreign and domestic, as a member of the Army's Military Police Corps. Upon completion of his military service, he joined the Security Department at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company.
In 1986, Mike began his career with Dominion. He was a member of the Security Department at Dominion's Surry Power Station until 1990 when he transferred to the Nuclear Public Affairs Department. In August of 2000, he accepted the position of Coordinator - Nuclear Information Center at North Anna Power Station. Since joining the Nuclear Public Affairs Team, he has presented information on energy related topics to various organizations including the United States Department of Energy, the United States Army Prime Power School, the Royal Naval Academy, Congressional Student Leadership conferences, civic organizations, educators and school groups.
In 2005, Mike was a recipient of the Nuclear Energy Institute's "Top Industry Practice" Award. Dominion's Nuclear Public Affairs team earned this award in recognition of their "Leadership and Vision" in promoting energy education.
Today, Mike divides his professional time between preparing new programs, coordinating public outreach activities and designing exhibits for the North Anna Nuclear Information Center. In addition, he continues to conduct energy presentations for groups of all ages.
A native Virginian, Mike currently resides in a rural home near the town of Montpelier in Hanover County Virginia. He is a member of the Virginia Section - American Nuclear Society, the North American Young Generation in Nuclear, the National Rifle Association, the Company of Military Historians and the Patrick Henry Society. He also serves as the President of Take Charge; a non-profit organization dedicated to providing leadership skill training to middle and high school students. Mike's hobbies include studying military history and reenacting events from the American Civil War.

Ms. Rebecca Fawls

Rebecca Kepler Fawls graduated from Longwood University with a BS in Physics in 1997. She went on to attend the University of Virginia School of Engineering where she received her ME in Nuclear Engineering in 1999. That same year she began working for Dominion Resources where she presently works as a Nuclear Core Design Methods Developer. Rebecca has been active in ANS since she was at UVA, holding a position in the student section, and has continued to participate, attending local and national ANS meetings. She has also been an active member of her local NA-YGN chapter since its inception.

Ms. Sophie Gutner

Sophie is a nuclear engineer, working for Dominion in the Nuclear Analysis and Fuel Department. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Power Engineering from France, a Master's Degree in Nuclear Engineering from Texas A&M University in 1996, and an MBA in Global Management from the University of Phoenix in 2004. She has 11 years of experience working for electric utility companies, in Texas and Virginia, with 8 years at a nuclear power station. She is a Six Sigma Black Belt at Dominion. She is currently the supervisor of the group responsible for the probabilistic risk assessment models for the Dominion nuclear fleet. She is a member of ANS (since 1996) and NA-YGN (since 1999).

Dr. Reed Johnson
4-Day STW Lead - 4-Day STW Program Lead - Instructor

Reed Johnson graduated from the Virginia Military Institute with a B.S. in Physics in 1953, completed a year-long course in nuclear engineering at the Oak Ridge School of Reactor Technology, and in 1962 was awarded the Doctor of Science degree in Engineering Physics from the University of Virginia. From 1954 until 1957 Reed worked in the nuclear submarine program, and on the design and operation of the Army Package Power Reactor. He was Project Engineer for the UVA Research Reactor and from 1962 until 1964 he served in Manila as director of an US AID-sponsored program of support for the Philippine Research Reactor. Reed was associated with the UVA Nuclear Engineering Program from its beginning in 1957 until the program was ended in 1998. He developed and taught graduate offerings in radiation shielding, nuclear power plant safety and non-destructive testing. From 1974 until 1991, Reed was a member of the Atomic Safety and Licensing Appeal Panel. In this capacity he participated in the resolution of technical and legal issues, which arose in the licensing of many of the nations nuclear power plants.
Reed is a member of the ANS and in 1980 was elected a Fellow of the Society.

Mr. Felix Killar
Instructor

Felix Killar is Senior Director of Fuel Supply & Material Licensees for the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI).
Mr. Killar manages generic operational, technical, fuel markets, and regulatory issues relating to nuclear fuel cycle facilities and adionuclides/radiopharmaceuticals facilities. He also oversees the management of the nuclear industry's measurement assurance program conducted in cooperation with the National Institute of Standards and Technology. He joined NEI in 1988 after working for Entergy Corporation (formerly Middle South Service Company) in New Orleans in a number of roles over the course of 11 years.
Mr. Killar's background includes working for Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc., a nuclear fuel fabrication and research facility, and three years' service in the United States Navy.
He earned a bachelor's degree in nuclear engineering from Mississippi State University and a master's degree in business administration from Mississippi College.

Mr. Dana Knee
2008 4D-STW Registration Lead - Instructor

Dana is the 2008-09 Chair for the Virginia Section of the American Nuclear Society (ANS). Dana is active in public education on nuclear science and technology applications through ANS and NA-YGN (North American Young Generation in Nuclear), including speaking appearances at Richmond-area schools, VAIS teacher conferences, and ANS Science Teacher Workshops. In addition, Dana has coordinated displays for ANS and NA-YGN functions at the Science Museum of Virginia and at Earth Day.
Dana received a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1993 and a Master of Business Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University in December 2007. Dana has 14 years of nuclear power industry experience, including the last 11 years in Dominion's Nuclear Analysis and Fuel department. Dana acquired a Virginia Professional Engineer license in 2001.

Mr. Rich Kochendarfer
Instructor

Mr. Kochendarfer has over thirty years' experience in the nuclear industry with the majority of the time spent in reactor design and analysis. This includes several different types of reactors, such as large pressurized water and liquid salt cooled reactors, heavy water moderated, aqueous, space propulsion, sodium-cooled fast, and small water and gas-cooled power reactors. His experience also includes work on the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository project.

Mr. Wilson Madison
Instructor

Wilson, a native of West Point, Virginia, has 38 years experience in operations, maintenance, engineering, licensing, training, and emergency preparedness related to nuclear power, steam plants, and electrical generation. Eight of these years were in the U.S. Navy and the remaining with Dominion. He has an Associate in Science Degree from Mohegan Community College and is a certified instructor for Dominion. He is currently Dominion's Nuclear Emergency Preparedness Training Coordinator for the North Anna and Surry Power Stations. Wilson, and his cat Biscuit, reside peacefully in the county of Cumberland, Virginia.

Dr. Kevin McCoy
4-Day STW Program Lead - Instructor

Dr. Kevin McCoy is an advisory engineer with AREVA in Lynchburg, VA. His areas of specialization are nuclear fuel materials and radioactive waste management. Kevin's recent work has focused on the behavior of used fuel from nuclear reactors during storage in dry casks, licensing of a fuel assembly design that can be used to destroy surplus plutonium from nuclear weapons, and improving the thermal conductivity of nuclear fuel pellets. From 1993 to 2001, Kevin worked full time on the Yucca Mountain Project in Las Vegas, NV. His areas of work there included selection of materials for waste containers, performance of container materials, and behavior of radioactive waste in the event of a container breach. From 1981 to 1992, Kevin was with Battelle Memorial Institute in Columbus, OH, where he worked on a variety of government and industrial research projects. Kevin has graduate and undergraduate degrees in materials engineering from Purdue University. He is author or co-author of 40 technical articles and papers.

Mr. Joe Montague
Instructor

Joe Montague holds a Bachelor's degree in Nuclear Engineering and a Master's degree in Resource Economics from the University of Florida. Prior to his current position as an Engineering Training Instructor, Joe was a project engineer on Dominion's Nuclear Analysis and Fuel staff. For 25 years he was involved in the procurement of Dominion's nuclear fuel requirements. Mr. Montague was directly responsible for administration and vendor liaison for the fabrication of the nuclear fuel components and related services used in all seven of Dominion's nuclear reactors.

Mr. Norman W. Reynolds
Instructor

Mr. Reynolds has over 30 years experience in mineral exploration and development in Canada and the United States. From 1976 to 1985, he worked exclusively in the uranium industry primarily in Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories and Virginia. As President of Marline Uranium Company, Mr. Reynolds was directly responsible for uranium exploration efforts in the Eastern United States which lead to the discovery of uranium at the Coles Hill Property in Virginia over 25 years ago. His extensive experience in geophysics in the mineral exploration industry led him to utilize this expertise in the utility locating industry. In 1985, Mr. Reynolds founded a utility locating company which he managed and operated until he sold the company in 2004. He never lost his love for prospecting and the mineral industry. In 2005, he returned to the uranium industry. From 1985 to 2005, Mr. Reynolds operated ProMark Utility Locators, Inc., a utility locating and damage prevention firm based in Chatham, Virginia with offices throughout the United States and Canada. In his current position, as President and Chief Executive Officer of Virginia Uranium, Inc., he oversees the Company's management and development of the Coles Hill uranium deposits. Mr. Reynolds has a Bachelors of Science degree from the University of Alberta and is a Registered Professional Geologist in Virginia and Georgia.

Mr. Joe Scott
Instructor

Mr. Scott has been in the commercial nuclear power industry for 28 years after 4 years in the United States Coast Guard. He spent 10 years at Turkey Point where he received his NRC reactor operator and senior reactor operator licenses. He transferred to NAPS 18 years ago as an instructor. Completed his SRO certification and master instructor certification. Held the position of lead instructor for the simulator and then initial license class. He assumed the duties as the Supervisor of Operations Training in January 1998. He has a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Averett University.

Mr. Richard Stevens
Instructor

Mr. Stevens has been employed at the North Anna Nuclear power station for 22 years. He is a Certified Senior Reactor Operator and primarily teaches licensed operators to obtain and maintain their Nuclear Regulatory Commission licenses. He also taught at Naval Nuclear Power School for five years. He is one of the very few individuals in the United States that was a commissioned officer in the United States Army Reserve and the United States Navy Reserve. He has a master's degree in physics and chemical engineering from Toledo University.

Ms. Lisa Stiles
Instructor

Lisa Stiles is the Project Leader of Strategic Staffing and Knowledge Management for the nuclear business unit of Dominion Generation.
From 2005 to 2007, Dominion loaned Ms. Stiles to the Nuclear Energy Institute's Governmental Affairs division. Prior to her assignment at NEI she was a nuclear engineer in the Nuclear Analysis and Fuel Department of Dominion Generation.
Ms. Stiles received her bachelor's and master's degrees in nuclear engineering from the University of Missour-Rolla (B.S.) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.S.).
Ms. Stiles is a passionate advocate for nuclear science and technology and has organized grassroots campaigns, authored pro-nuclear editorials, participated in debates and appeared as a guest on TV and radio shows. She volunteers for organizations that promote the field locally, nationally, and internationally and has served as President of the North American Young Generation in Nuclear and Secretary of the American Nuclear Society Young Members Group. Ms. Stiles is currently the president of the International Youth Nuclear Congress.

Mr. Michael Stuart
Instructor

Michael Stuart has been working in the nuclear energy field for 17 years. His experience includes 12 years in Radiological Protection as both a Health Physics and Chemistry Technician. For the last 6 years, Michael has served as a Senior Instructor for Dominion, where he teaches classes for Engineering and designs computer-based training for new nuclear employees.
In 2005, Michael was elected as the Public Information Officer for the North American Young Generation in Nuclear, an organization of more than 2000 young professionals across North America working in all fields of nuclear technology.
Michael has been instrumental in public outreach activities in support of new nuclear plants in Virginia, Illinois, and Mississippi. He has also presented papers and conducted workshops in public outreach and education at various sites across the US, and at the International Youth Nuclear Congress in Stockholm.

Mr. Carl Tarantino
Instructor

Employed by Dominion for 25 years, Carl Tarantino is a Certified Health Physicist in the Nuclear Licensing & Operations Support Department, providing oversight and integration support to the nuclear fleet's Radiological Protection departments. After completing his undergraduate program in Biology from St. John Fisher College, Rochester, NY, Carl was commissioned in the USN Medical Service Corps as a Radiation Health Officer. Following a tour of duty with the Navy's Environmental Health Center in Norfolk, VA Carl pursued an MS in Environmental Engineering with a Health Physics concentration from the University of Florida. Joining Virginia Electric & Power Company, Carl worked as a staff Health Physicist at the North Anna Power Station and spent a year working as a Nuclear Technical supervisor at the Salem Nuclear Power plant in southern New Jersey. His career with Dominion continued at the corporate Nuclear Operations Department.
Both NRRPT and American Board of Health Physics (ABHP) certified, Carl has been an active plenary member of the Health Physics Society (HPS), national and local VA chapter since 1981, and a member of the VA section, ANS since 1998. After being the STW Coordinator for the VA Chapter, HPS during the past 6 years, Carl now serves as Chairperson for the Science Support Committee of the national HPS. Carl received his MBA from Averett University in 2004 and completed Dominion's Six Sigma Black Belt program in 2005.

Ms. Christy Thomas
Instructor

Christy currently teaches Honors and AP chemistry at Powhatan High School in Powhatan, Virginia. She began teaching twenty years ago, after receiving her B.S degree in Chemistry Education from Virginia Commonwealth University. Christy received the "Steinlein Shapard Teaching Award" from Randolph Macon Woman's College in 2004 and was chosen as the James Madison University Chemistry Department Outstanding High School Chemistry Teacher of the Year in 2001. She was the Virginia Section American Chemical Society Distinguished High School Chemistry Teacher in 1997, and received the "Outstanding Educator Award" from the Governor's School for Mathematics, Science and Technology in 1996. She was also chosen as the Powhatan High School Teacher of the Year in 1995. Christy helped plan and teach a course entitled "Modern Chemical Detectives" at the Mathematics & Science Center, in 2000 and 2001 and she is a current member of the American Chemical Society - Chemical Education Division.

Mr. Paul Riley
Instructor

1995 BS grad of MCV/VCU's nuclear medicine technology program. Certified nuclear medicine technologist with a specialty certification in nuclear cardiology. Member of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and American Society of Nuclear Cardiology. Ten years clinical experience. Joined the faculty at VCU Radiation Sciences on March 2006 as Clinical Coordinator for Nuclear Medicine Technology Program.
Prior to assuming his role as Clinical Coordinator, Paul worked for 11 years as a nuclear medicine technologist in both hospital and private cardiology settings. He has also has served as an affiliate clinical instructor for VCU's Nuclear Medicine Technology Program. He is pursing a Master of Public Health degree at VCU.

Mr. Keith Welch
Instructor

Keith Welch is a Radiological Engineer at Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility in Newport News, Virginia. Keith has been involved in radiation protection work for over 25 years, working in the Naval nuclear program, the commercial nuclear power industry, and currently in the Department of Energy's nuclear physics research program. Keith's duties have included working as a technologist, a training instructor, supervisor, and engineer. Keith is registered by the National Registry of Radiation Protection Technologists, and is a member of the Health Physics Society. He received a bachelor's degree in Technical Management with a physics concentration from Athens State University in Athens, Alabama.