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
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
Standards Program
The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
Latest Magazine Issues
Jul 2025
Jan 2025
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
September 2025
Nuclear Technology
August 2025
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
Deep Space: The new frontier of radiation controls
In commercial nuclear power, there has always been a deliberate tension between the regulator and the utility owner. The regulator fundamentally exists to protect the worker, and the utility, to make a profit. It is a win-win balance.
From the U.S. nuclear industry has emerged a brilliantly successful occupational nuclear safety record—largely the result of an ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) process that has driven exposure rates down to what only a decade ago would have been considered unthinkable. In the U.S. nuclear industry, the system has accomplished an excellent, nearly seamless process that succeeds to the benefit of both employee and utility owner.
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.
