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Conference Spotlight
2025 ANS Winter Conference & Expo
November 9–12, 2025
Washington, DC|Washington Hilton
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!
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Latest News
NEA report calls for more accurate data on SNF heat decay
The OECD Nuclear Energy Agency has issued a report calling for more-detailed information on tracking the decay heat of spent nuclear fuel from light water reactors. According to the NEA, the report highlights the increasing importance of accurate decay heat estimations due to evolving fuel characteristics, including higher initial fuel enrichment, increased burn-up rates, and extended reactor cycle lengths.
The report, Summary of the NEA Assessment on Spent Nuclear Fuel Decay Heat for Light Water Reactors, summarizes the findings of a subgroup of the NEA’s Working Party on Nuclear Criticality Safety (WPNCS), which ran from January 2022 to January 2024.
Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space (NETS-2024) Plenary SPeaker
Richard Griffith serves as the Energy & Homeland Security Portfolio Sr. Campaign Manager for the Resilient Energy Systems Mission Campaign which is a portfolio of Lab Directed Research and Development focused on fundamental research aimed at improving the Nation’s energy and related infrastructure resilience to intentional and man-made threats.
Richard also serves as Program Manager for Nuclear Energy Safety and Security and the Senior Manager of the Nuclear Energy Safety Technology organization, which enhances energy security and nuclear fuel cycle viability by leading cutting-edge research and development in energy conversation, safety, security, and safeguards.
Richard began his Sandia career in 1990 as a developer for the CONTAIN reactor safety analysis code. In 1998, Richard joined Sandia’s management team in the Engineering Sciences Center. He managed several technical departments, including Plasma and Aerosol Sciences, Microscale and Non-Continuum Sciences, Thermal Sciences, and Vulnerability Technologies. Richard also served as Deputy for the Chem/Bio National Security Program and as Deputy for Safety and Security in Nuclear Weapons Engineering Campaign 6, where he created and funded technology projects to develop nuclear weapon qualification capabilities.
In 2010, Richard became the Senior Manager of the Complex Systems for National Security organization. While serving in this role, Richard accepted additional responsibilities as Laboratory Lead for the Resilience in Complex Systems Research Challenge; Program Manager for the Disaster Management and Resilience Program in the International, Homeland, and Nuclear Security (IHNS) Program Management Unit; and IHNS Laboratory Directed Research and Development Investment Area Lead.
Richard has a master’s degree and PhD in nuclear engineering from Texas A&M University. He also received a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering from Arizona State University. Since 2017, Richard has served as an external advisory board member for Texas A&M University’s Department of Nuclear Energy and for University of New Mexico’s Department of Nuclear Energy.
Last modified February 20, 2024, 7:46am MST
