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
May 2026
Nuclear Technology
March 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
A year in orbit: ISS deployment tests radiation detectors for future space missions
The predawn darkness on a cool Florida night was shattered by the ignition of nine Merlin engines on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The thrust of the engines shook the ground miles away. From a distance, the rocket appeared to slowly rise above the horizon. For the cargo onboard, the launch was anything but gentle, as the ignition of liquid oxygen generated more than 1.5 million pounds of force. After the rocket had been out of sight for several minutes, the booster dramatically returned to Earth with several sonic booms in a captivating show of engineering designed to make space travel less expensive and more sustainable.
Partner
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe Partner
Amy Roma is a Partner at the law firm of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe. She is a leading authority on nuclear energy, fusion, and advanced power regulations, advising on the regulatory and commercial strategies that determine whether next generation energy projects are financed, licensed, and built.
She represents leading and emerging nuclear market participants — including reactor developers, industrial energy users, utilities, investors, and government stakeholders — in high-stakes commercialization strategy and strategic engagement with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Her work spans complex licensing proceedings, regulatory approvals, compliance matters, and investigations involving advanced reactors, small modular reactors (SMRs), microreactors, fusion systems, fuel cycle facilities, and space and defense nuclear applications.
Her practice is centered on the commercialization of first-of-a-kind energy technologies. She advises companies, investors, and strategic partners on designing innovative regulatory pathways and durable commercial structures that enable deployment — aligning licensing strategy, capital formation, investment structuring, offtake arrangements, and supply chain frameworks to bring advanced nuclear and fusion projects to market.
She also advises on strategic investments in new and existing nuclear projects, with particular focus on nuclear liability regimes, export controls, foreign ownership and control considerations, and the evolving global deployment landscape. Her work frequently sits at the intersection of nuclear energy with AI infrastructure, industrial decarbonization, space, and defense.
Recognized by the Financial Times as one of the Most Innovative Lawyers in Technology and among the top 10 Most Innovative Lawyers in North America, Amy is a trusted voice in global energy innovation. She maintains deep working relationships across various government agencies and has testified multiple times before the U.S. Congress. Amy is frequently called upon to address issues of grid reliability, decarbonization, national security, and advanced energy deployment.
She also leads several high-profile humanitarian initiatives, including coordinating the use of the New England Patriots team aircraft to secure and transport two million masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.
