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Conference Spotlight
2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
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Center for Used Fuel Research: Building confidence in storage and transport
Used nuclear fuel storage and transportation have reached a critical juncture.
Dozens of utilities need reliable data on how used nuclear fuel performs in dry storage casks and canisters to extend regulatory licenses at sites across the United States. Likewise, the Department of Energy expects to take ownership of the used nuclear fuel—termed “spent nuclear fuel” in the laws and regulations governing its stewardship—and transfer it to one or more federal staging facilities for management and disposition.
Meanwhile, dozens of reactor companies are testing prototypes of advanced reactors and advanced reactor fuels. Eventually, regulators and industry must also verify the safety and security of storage methods for these advanced fuel types.
To help address these challenges, the DOE established the Center for Used Fuel Research (CUFR) in January 2026 for work related to the long-term storage and transport of used nuclear fuel.
General Chair:
Dan Churchman (Southern Nuclear)
Technical Program Chair:
Vince Gilbert (Model Performance, LLC)
Assistant Technical Program Chair:
Jon Anderson (ACA Proactive)
Business/Economic Performance Track Leaders:
Tim Schlimpert (MCR Performance Solutions)
Maria Hernandez (Duke Energy)
Decommissioning Track Leader:
Jim Byrne (Byrne & Assoc., LLC)
Executive/Leadership Track Leaders:
Bob Coward (MPR)
Ken Thomas
Engineering and Equipment Reliability Track Leaders:
Ray Herb (Southern Nuclear)
Pareez Golub (Sargent and Lundy)
Ted Quinn (Technology Resources)
Nuclear Supply Chain Track Leaders:
William Fry (Duke Energy)
Jim Ripple (Southern Nuclear)
Maintenance and Work Management Track Leaders:
Bryant Hearne (INPO)
Pete Arthur (INPO)
John McDonald (ACA Proactive)
Operations/Ops Training Track Leaders:
Bruce Hennigan (Exelon Corporation)
Dan Randolph (Exelon Corporation)
Jason Lanier (Duke Energy)
Performance Improvement Track Leaders:
Fred Lake (WD Associates)
Kevin Rackley (TVA)
Regulatory Relations Track Leaders:
Garry Young (Entergy)
Luis Betancourt (US NRC)
Risk Management Track Leaders:
Gene Kelly (Exelon Corporation)
Tim Crook (MCR Performance Solutions)
Technology and Innovation Track Leaders:
John Downing (John Downing Consulting LLC)
Adam Dow (Southern California Edison)
Lead Knowledge Manager:
Sarah Lynn (Luminant)
Knowledge Managers:
Saieed Ahmed (Exelon Corporation)
Lee Causey (Duke Energy)
Robby Christian (INL)
Maxwell Daniels (IAEA)
Shahrukh Khan (Georgetown University)
Matthew Parsons (PSU)
Matthew Mairinger (Ontario Power Generation)
Sudipta Saha (U of S. Carolina)
Greg Swain (Duke Energy)
Amber Von Ruden (Exelon Corporation)
