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Conference Spotlight
2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
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Nuclear Science and Engineering
September 2026
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August 2026
Latest News
The transformation of the NRC: 50 years of commissioners
The dust is beginning to settle following the whirlwind of changes at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission over the past year, and 2025 ultimately may be viewed as a transformative year, as well as the year the NRC celebrated its golden anniversary. The 12 months of that milestone year brought more change to the agency in its composition, its mandate, and its relationship to the executive branch than any comparable period in the preceding four decades.
Now at 51 years and counting, the NRC is working with a full commission and issuing new rulemakings to both regulate and support the next round of nuclear deployments. With the turbulence of 2025 still fresh in our minds, Nuclear News decided it was a good time to revisit the professional backgrounds of all 42 NRC commissioners who have served over the agency’s 50-year history to see how the composition of the commission has evolved over time.
2022 ANS Annual Meeting
Principal Engineer
Westinghouse Electric Company
Catherine Prat is a Principal Engineer with Westinghouse Electric Company. In her current role, she serves as the lead engineer supporting the Initial Test Program at Vogtle Units 3 and 4, focusing on mechanical issues on the Nuclear Island. Catherine has also served as a licensing engineer with a specialty in ITAAC and Part 52 licensing. Prior to moving to Vogtle, she worked on the GSI-191 resolution team for AP1000 and was a site engineer at Sanmen Units 1 and 2, helping to bring the first AP1000 plants online.
Catherine has been an active member of ANS for over a decade, in both student / local chapters and the national organization. She currently serves as the ANS Young Member Director on the Board of Directors, as well as the immediate past chair for the Young Members Group and on the Executive Committee for the Operations and Power Division.
Catherine earned her B.S. in Nuclear Engineering in 2014 and her M.Eng. in Nuclear Engineering in 2017. She also holds an SRO certificate (SNUPPS) and her PMP.
Last modified April 27, 2022, 12:51pm PDT
