NINE NRC EXECUTIVES HONORED WITH PRESIDENTIAL AWARDS 

 

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

Regulatory Commission for either Distinguished or Meritorious Executive Rank Awards for 2008. 

“These recipients have consistently demonstrated their strength, integrity, and commitment to 

excellence as public servants for the agency and for our fellow Americans,” said Chairman Dale 

Klein. 

 

The Presidential Awards winners are chosen through a rigorous selection process. They are 

nominated by their agency heads, evaluated by boards consisting of private citizens, and approved 

by the President. The evaluation criteria focus on leadership and results. Less than one percent of 

the career Senior Executive Service corps receives the prestigious Distinguished Rank award each 

year, and less than five percent of the corps receives the Meritorious Rank Award. 

 This year’s Distinguished Executive Rank Award goes to James F. McDermott, director of 

Human Resources. The recipients of the Meritorious Executive Rank Awards are Eliot B. Brenner, 

Stephen G. Burns, Nilesh C. Chokshi, Daniel H. Dorman, Frank P. Gillespie, Michael R. Johnson, 

Michael E. Mayfield, and Mary Lynn Scott. The agency will recognize these individuals at its 

annual awards ceremony in the spring. Highlights of their valuable contributions to the agency 

follow. 

 James F. McDermott, director of Human Resources and Chief 

Human Capital Officer has demonstrated exceptional leadership throughout 

his 35-year career in the NRC and has demonstrated unwavering 

commitment to the highest standards of public service. He is widely 

recognized for meeting the emerging human capital needs of the agency by 

employing his unique ability to envision and implement new policies and 

programs. 

 

 Eliot B. Brenner, director of the Office of Public Affairs, has 

consistently demonstrated clear commitment to the agency’s mission in the 

critical role of communicating effectively with high-level audiences and 

the media about how the agency protects people and the environment. He 

has charted a successful course for keeping stakeholders informed and 

involved in NRC processes to help ensure openness and maintain public 

confidence in the agency. He effectively communicates Commission 

policies, programs, and decisions to the news media, public, and other 

stakeholders. 

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 

Site: http://www.nrc.gov

No. 08-195 October 23, 2008
 Stephen G. Burns, deputy General Counsel in the Office of the 

General Counsel has demonstrated superb performance during his 29-year 

career at the NRC advising the Commission on law and legal policy. He 

has also provided advice and legal representation to the agency in all 

activities, including representing the NRC on issues with other government 

agencies, with Congress and at international forums. In addition, he has 

played a pivotal role in integrating a myriad of technical and legal issues in 

key agency decisions in coordination with the Commission and Office of 

Executive Director for Operations. 

 

 Nilesh C. Chokshi, deputy director of the Division of Site and 

Environmental Reviews in the Office of New Reactors, has used his 

significant engineering expertise and vision for environmental and safety 

reviews of the proposed sites for new reactor construction. He has 

consistently demonstrated superb performance through his 20-year career 

in the NRC and has made important contributions as a leader in this newly 

formed office to serve the public interest by enabling the safe, secure, and 

environmentally responsible use of nuclear power in meeting the nation's 

future energy needs. 

 

 Daniel H. Dorman, as former director of the Division of Security 

Operations, now director of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards in the Office 

of Nuclear Materials Safety and Safeguards, has demonstrated unparalleled 

technical and leadership skills providing effective oversight of security 

programs at the nation’s 104 operating commercial nuclear power plants 

and several fuel facilities. He has made noteworthy contributions directing 

inspection programs and security force-on-force testing. He directed 

acquisition, installation, operation, and maintenance of secure 

communication systems in support of the agency’s incident response, 

intelligence liaison, and international programs. 

 Frank P. Gillespie, former executive director for the Advisory 

Committee on Reactor Safeguards and Advisory Committee on Nuclear 

Waste and Materials, has demonstrated outstanding technical and 

leadership skills, personal integrity, and dedication throughout his 30 years 

at the NRC. He worked diligently to improve the performance of these two 

Committees that provide independent safety advice to the Commission and 

senior agency officials on reactor safety as well as waste and materials 

safety.

 

 Michael R. Johnson, as former deputy director of the Office of 

Nuclear Regulatory Research now director of the Office of New Reactors, 

has been recognized as an exemplary leader and a highly effective 

government executive. He has consistently demonstrated superb 

performance and leadership during his successful career in which he has 

led the development of new and innovative approaches to improve the 

effectiveness of the agency. With a keen ability to bring together 

stakeholders with differing perspectives and desires to achieve common 

goals, he has been instrumental in delivering “win-win” solutions resulting 

in a spirit of increased cooperation. 
 Michael E. Mayfield, director of the Division of Engineering in the 

Office of New Reactors, has demonstrated superb performance during his 

23-year career in the NRC with significant contributions in the 

development of standards used in the design and operation of nuclear 

power reactors. He has skillfully directed a broad range of complex 

technical programs on engineering aspects of reactor design certifications 

and reactor application reviews. He has been the NRC=s designated 

member on the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Nuclear Safety 

Standards Committee. 

 

 Mary Lynn Scott, former director of the Division of Contracts in the 

Office of Administration, has made significant contributions over her 36-year 

career of federal service including directing and managing the NRC’s 

contracting activities. She developed and implemented effective contracting 

policies and procedures, directed and coordinated contracts, acquisitions, 

grants, and financial assistance activities. She also provided advice and 

assistance to agency program officials regarding procurement regulations, 

requirements, and approaches to meet program objectives consistent with 

contracting requirements. 

### 

 News releases are available through a free listserv subscription at the following Web address: 

http://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/listserver.html. The NRC homepage at www.nrc.gov also offers a SUBSCRIBE 

link. E-mail notifications are sent to subscribers when news releases are posted to NRC's Web site.