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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
August 2026
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The deadline arrives: Checking in on the Reactor Pilot Program
On May 23, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14301, “Reforming Nuclear Reactor Testing at the DOE,” which instructed the Department of Energy to create a Reactor Pilot Program (RPP)—a new system in which companies could pursue DOE authorization to build and test their first-of-a-kind nuclear technologies. EO 14301 set an ambitious goal for that program: three reactors achieving criticality by July 4, 2026.
Technical Session|Panel|Radioisotope Power Systems
Tuesday, May 7, 2024|10:00–11:40AM MDT|Sweeney F
Session Chair:
Harsh Desai
Alternate Chair:
Session Organizer:
There has been a rapid growth in demand for space exploration and utilization of nuclear systems from both government and commercial customers. With multiple projects executing between AFRL, DARPA, and NASA, there has been significant progress in advancing commercial technologies for radioisotope power systems, nuclear thermal propulsion, and fission surface power. For successful deployment of these space nuclear systems, the nuclear industry will need to establish a resilient, affordable, and a sustainable supply chain for HALEU and radioisotopes. This panel assembles experts to deliberate on the crucial task of ensuring that the nuclear supply chain is well-equipped to meet this burgeoning need.
James Daffron
U.S. Dept. of Energy/Oak Ridge Environmental Management
Ken Rueter
United Cleanup Oak Ridge
Danielle Gagen
Westinghouse Electric Co.