Guess named Director of nuclear safety oversight for CNS

The Y12 National Security Complex announced Thursday that Ken Guess has been appointed to serve as Consolidated Nuclear Security's (CNS) director of nuclear safety oversight.

His role with CNS will consist of the integration and execution of nuclear safety measures and operations across the enterprise.

“I’m excited to be starting a second career here,” Guess said. “Organizations that have aging infrastructures like Y-12 and Pantex have challenges. My goal is to continue the focus on the mission, ensuring we’re all doing the best job we can for the security of our country.”

Prior to this appointment, Guess had served 25 years as an officer in the U.S. Nuclear Navy, working in the nuclear submarine program. Most recently Guess served as the ascension test director within the Operational Readiness Department of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) at the Watts Bar Nuclear Generating Station's Unit 2 reactor.

“I enjoyed that Ken has been an end user of both Pantex and Y-12 products," Director of Nuclear Operations Support Bill Heineken said. "While in charge of those products, he had complete confidence in their quality and efficacy.”

Guess holds a master's degree and bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Houston and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, respectively.