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      From operator to entrepreneur: David Garcia applies outage management lessons

      David Garcia

      If ComEd’s Zion plant in northern Illinois hadn’t closed in 1998, David Garcia might still be there, where he got his start in nuclear power as an operator at age 24.

      But in his ninth year working there, Zion closed, and Garcia moved on to a series of new roles—including at Wisconsin’s Point Beach plant, the corporate offices of Minnesota’s Xcel Energy, and on the supplier side at PaR Nuclear—into an on-the-job education that he augmented with degrees in business and divinity that he sought later in life.

      Garcia started his own company—Waymaker Resource Group—in 2014. Recently, Waymaker has been supporting Holtec’s restart project at the Palisades plant with staffing and analysis. Palisades sits almost exactly due east of the fully decommissioned Zion site on the other side of Lake Michigan and is poised to operate again after what amounts to an extended outage of more than three years. Holtec also plans to build more reactors at the same site.

      For Garcia, the takeaway is clear: “This industry is not going away. Nuclear power and the adjacent industries that support nuclear power—and clean energy, period—are going to be needed for decades upon decades.”

      In July, Garcia talked with Nuclear News staff writer Susan Gallier about his career and what he has learned about running successful outages and other projects.

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Perspectives from Past DOE Nuclear Energy Officials

March 26, 2021|12:00–1:00PM (1:00–2:00PM EDT)

All UsersAvailable to All Users



The Office of Nuclear Energy within the Department of Energy plays a primary role in supporting and executing nuclear energy related research, development, and deployment for the United States Government. Established by President Jimmy Carter, the Office of Nuclear Energy has been privileged to be led and supported by individuals passionate about nuclear technology and with unique and novel perspectives on the future of nuclear energy. As the Biden administration considers nominees and candidates for the Assistant Secretary of Energy for Nuclear Energy role, we have brought together past leaders within the Office of Nuclear Energy, all of whom are ANS members and long-time participants in Society activities, for a unique panel discussion.

Panelists

  • Rita Baranwal, Former Assistant Secretary of Energy for the Office of Nuclear Energy
  • John Kotek, Former Acting Assistant Secretary of Energy for the Office of Nuclear Energy
  • Peter Lyons, Former Assistant Secretary of Energy for the Office of Nuclear Energy
  • William D. Magwood, Former Director of Nuclear Energy for the Department of Energy
  • Warren “Pete” Miller, Former Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy

Moderator

  • Benjamin Reinke, Former Executive Director Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Office of the Secretary of Energy
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