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2026 ANS Annual Conference
May 31–June 3, 2026
Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
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RIC panel discusses pathway to fusion commercialization
Fusion leaders at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s annual Regulatory Information Conference discussed the path forward for regulating the burgeoning fusion industry. The speakers discussed government and private industry initiatives in the United States and United Kingdom, with a focus on efforts shaping the near-term deployment of commercial fusion machines.
A recurring theme was the need to explain the difference between fission and fusion. Representatives from the Department of Energy and Type One Energy highlighted this as an important distinction for regulators, as it will allow fusion to undergo its own independent maturation process for developing standards and regulations in the same way that fission has. Lea Perlas, Fusion Program director at the Virginia Department of Health, said that confusion between fission and fusion has been a common cause for misplaced concerns among community members surrounding Commonwealth Fusion Systems’ proposed fusion plant site near Richmond, Va.
2023 ANS WINTER CONFERENCE AND EXPO
Kate H. Kelly is the director for Space and Emerging programs of BWXT Advanced Technologies LLC, a subsidiary of BWX Technologies, Inc. (BWXT), leading the strategy and execution of the space and advanced manufacturing portfolio.
Prior to her current position, Ms. Kelly was the Advanced Nuclear Systems Program Manager, focused on the development of nuclear projects to promote the company’s R&D interests in advanced manufacturing and nuclear thermal propulsion technologies. She also worked in project management, quality control and operational excellence within BWXT’s Nuclear Operations Group in Lynchburg, Virginia. Her previous responsibilities include managing a next generation reactor manufacturing development project, overseeing quality trending and performance initiatives, and leading cost reduction and improvement projects. She joined the company in 2012 as a system design engineer on BWXT’s small modular reactor (SMR) program.
For her work at BWXT and in the Lynchburg, Virginia community, Ms. Kelly was recognized by Lynchburg Business Magazine and in Woman Engineer Magazine in 2020. Ms. Kelly earned a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from the University of Notre Dame and has Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and Project Management Professional® certifications.
Last modified October 25, 2023, 2:30pm EDT
