ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Explore membership for yourself or for your organization.
Conference Spotlight
2026 ANS Annual Conference
May 31–June 3, 2026
Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
Latest Magazine Issues
Apr 2026
Jan 2026
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
April 2026
Nuclear Technology
February 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
May 2026
Latest News
Panelists discuss U.S. path to criticality in ANS webinar
The American Nuclear Society recently hosted a panel discussion featuring prominent figures from the nuclear sector who discussed the industry’s ongoing push for criticality.
Yasir Arafat, chief technical officer of Aalo Atomics; Jordan Bramble, CEO of Antares Nuclear; and Rita Baranwal, chief nuclear officer of Radiant Industries, participated in the discussion and covered their recent progress in the Department of Energy’s Reactor Pilot Program. Nader Satvat, director of nuclear systems design at Kairos Power, gave an update on the company’s ongoing demonstration projects taking place outside of the landscape of DOE authorization.
James S. Tulenko was the 50th President of the American Nuclear Society (ANS). He has been a member of the Society since 1972 and is a member of four ANS Professional Divisions: Education, Training & Workforce Development, Fuel Cycle & Waste Management , Material Science & Technology, and Robotics & Remote Systems. He is also an ANS Fellow, the highest membership grade of the Society.
He was educated at Harvard receiving both his undergraduate degree and Masters. Following graduation, Tulenko served in the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers as 1st Lieutenant, Platoon Leader, C Company, 20th Engineer Battalion.
Upon completion of his active service he entered MIT, and upon graduation spent the next 23 years in the nuclear industry as Manager, Nuclear Fuel Engineering at Babcock and Wilcox; Manager of Physics at Nuclear Materials and Equipment Corp, and Manager, Nuclear Development at United Nuclear Corp.
He then spent 30 years in the academic field serving as Chairman of the Nuclear Science and Engineering Department at the University of Florida for sixteen years (1986-2001) and then 15 years as an Emeritus Professor and Director of the Laboratory for development of Advanced Fuels and Materials at the University of Florida.
Tulenko’s history with ANS has been impressive. He was presented with the Silver Anniversary Award of the American Nuclear Society (ANS) for his contributions to the nuclear fuel cycle in the Society’s first 25 years, received the Mishima Award, and was awarded the Arthur Holly Compton Award.
His involvement at ANS included being the Chair of the Fuel Cycle & Waste Management, and the Material Science and Technology Divisions. He served as Chair of the Robotics and Remote Systems Divisions twice.
He was the ANS representative to the ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission, the Applied Science Commission and the ABET Board of Directors. He also served on the Board of Directors of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) and was the ASEE First Vice President, Vice President of the Professional Interest Council, Professional Interest Council 1.
Read Nuclear News from July 2004 for more on Jim.
