2021 ANS Winter Meeting and expo Plenary Session Speaker

John F. Kotek

Nuclear Energy Institute

Senior Vice President for Policy Development and Public Affairs

John Kotek is the Senior Vice President for Policy Development and Public Affairs at the Nuclear Energy Institute. He’s responsible for providing policy and public affairs leadership on economic, electricity market and environmental issues related to the nuclear energy industry.

John was appointed in January 2015 to the position of Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy, and was nominated by President Obama in October 2015 to serve as Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy. In that role he was responsible for DOE’s research efforts on current and future nuclear energy systems, maintaining the government’s nuclear energy research infrastructure, establishing a path forward for the nation’s spent nuclear fuel and high-level nuclear waste management program, and a host of other national priorities.

Prior to his appointment, John was the Managing Partner of the Boise office of Gallatin Public Affairs. John advised energy, natural resources and other clients facing complex communication and government relations challenges.

From 2010-2012, John served as Staff Director to the Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future, which recommended a new strategy for managing nuclear waste in the United States. John led the development of the Commission’s final report to the Secretary of Energy, engaged in regular communications with Congressional and White House staff, and served as media spokesperson.

From 2003-2006, John was Deputy Manager of the DOE’s Idaho Operations Office. In that role he was responsible for development and management of the Idaho National Laboratory contract and interface with the INL cleanup effort. Before joining DOE in July 2003, John worked for Argonne National Laboratory where he directed Argonne’s participation in the Generation IV technology roadmapping project, an international effort focused on evaluating and developing a next-generation of nuclear energy systems.

In 2002, John was the American Nuclear Society’s Glenn T. Seaborg Congressional Fellow. John served in the Office of Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

John started his career with DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology. He held several positions during his nine years with DOE-NE, including Associate Director for Technology, Associate Director for Management and Administration, and Chief of Staff.

John holds a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Illinois and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland. He lives in Maryland with his wife Denise and their three children.