NRC NEWS

 U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 

 Office of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200

 Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 E-mail: opa@nrc.gov Web Site: http://www.nrc.gov

 

No. 06-144 November 20, 2006

TEN NRC EXECUTIVES HONORED WITH PRESIDENTIAL AWARDS

President George W. Bush has selected 10 senior managers at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory

Commission for either Distinguished or Meritorious Executive Rank Awards for 2006.

The Presidential Awards are granted for "sustained extraordinary accomplishment," focusing on

leadership to produce results. Fewer than one percent of the career Senior Executive Service corps

receives the prestigious Distinguished Rank award each year, and fewer than five percent of the corps

receives the Meritorious Rank Award. The winners are selected through nomination by their agencies,

evaluation by boards of private citizens, and approval by the President.

Karen D. Cyr, General Counsel and Luis A. Reyes, Executive Director for Operations were

selected to receive the Distinguished Executive Award. Edward T. Baker, A. Randolph Blough, E.

William Brach, Cynthia A. Carpenter, Charles A. Casto, Farouk Eltawila, Glenn M. Tracy, and

Michael F. Weber were selected to receive Meritorious Awards. The agency will recognize these

individuals at its annual awards ceremony in the spring. Highlights of their valuable contributions to

the agency follow.

Karen Cyr has provided exceptional leadership as the agency’s chief legal officer, making

significant contributions to developing the legal framework for nuclear energy regulation for more than

28 years. Cyr provided key support and counsel on legislation incorporated into the Energy Policy Act

of 2005 to enhance nuclear security, improve the agency’s licensing framework, and position the

agency to meet its human capital needs. She has also been in the forefront of the agency’s responses to

the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, by addressing such novel legal questions as the deputization of

nuclear reactor security forces and the use of deadly force by private security guards.

Luis Reyes has demonstrated exceptional leadership directing the NRC’s regulatory, licensing,

and administrative programs that has positioned the agency to meet the challenges of enhancing

security of nuclear power plants and materials in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11,

preparing for future nuclear plant licensing to meet the Nation’s electric energy needs, and meet its

human capital challenges. Reyes has helped establish the agency as the foremost nuclear regulatory

body in the world and as the top-ranked regulatory agency in the 2005 list of the Top Ten Places to

Work in the Federal Government in a survey of 150,000 Federal employees.

Edward Baker, deputy Chief Information Officer and director of the Office of Information

Services, has used innovative and creative strategies to institute change and successfully orchestrate
resolutions for a myriad of issues. Two of his most noteworthy achievements were implementing a

world-class program for addressing safety and security concerns submitted by the public or industry

and concluding an international agreement on controlling high-risk radioactive sources.

Randolph Blough, Region I (King of Prussia, Pa.), has consistently demonstrated superb

performance throughout his 26-year career in the NRC. Among his achievements are his expert

leadership to develop and implement a dramatically revamped Reactor Oversight Program, effective

oversight of nuclear plants recovering from problems in controversial environments, positive influence

on industry safety performance, and improvement of employee morale and teamwork.

William Brach, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, has consistently

demonstrated over a 35-year federal career, his exceptional ability to actively build team spirit and

instill pride in one’s accomplishments while at the same time address complex tasks and successfully

bring them to closure. He is recognized both domestically and internationally as the agency’s leading

expert on spent nuclear fuel storage and transportation policy and safety issues.

Cynthia Carpenter, director of the Office of Enforcement, made significant contributions to

nuclear safety during her federal career. She exhibited leadership during a period of dynamic challenge

at the NRC where she has overseen key decisions related to operator licensing, nuclear reactor

inspection, rulemaking, environmental reviews, budgeting and performance management. Carpenter

has also been key to ensuring the agency actively hires new staff to support new reactor licensing. 

Charles Casto, Region II (Atlanta, Ga.), while in numerous senior positions of responsibility,

has engaged in innovative management practices to achieve exceedingly effective results, in his 21

years with the NRC. He has demonstrated outstanding leadership in the practical uses of information

technology, improvements to NRC’s inspection program, bolstering of public confidence, and

development of a diverse employee workforce and cadre of new leaders in the region.

Farouk Eltawila, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, is recognized worldwide as an expert

in thermal-hydraulics, nuclear fuel behavior and severe accident issues. He has modernized the

analytical tools that the agency uses for licensing decisions and directed a comprehensive safety

research program for predicting the behavior of nuclear fuel, containment and safety systems for

current and advanced plants under a variety of conditions. As a result of tremendous personal initiative,

research was completed for timely certification of advanced reactor designs. 

Glenn Tracy, Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response, has consistently applied his

keen strategic thinking and analytic skills over his 17-year career at NRC to nuclear safety and security

programs of critical importance to the Commission and its stakeholders. Particularly noteworthy was

his development of post-9/11 requirements and their implementation for improved security at nuclear

power plants nationwide and his institution of a start-of-the-art force-on-force security program. 

Michael Weber, deputy director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, has distinguished

himself during his 24 years at NRC as a highly effective government executive, exemplifying

performance management, customer service, and inspiring leadership. He has a track record of

successes in reactor safety, radioactive waste and materials, security, and emergency response. He has

been recognized as a trend setter and leader in the agency. Weber was instrumental in the aftermath of 
Sept. 11, in establishing a successful response team and overseeing security enhancements at more than

200 sensitive nuclear facilities.

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