NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION: New NRC Commissioners Caputo and Wright Sworn In; Commissioner Baran to Serve Additional Term

Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following announcement on May 30.

Annie Caputo and David A. Wright, nominated by President Trump and confirmed by the United States Senate, were sworn in as NRC Commissioners this week by NRC Chairman Kristine L. Svinicki. Commissioner Caputo will serve the remainder of a five-year term ending June 30, 2021. Commissioner Wright will serve the remainder of a five-year term ending June 30, 2020. Jeff Baran, who began his first term as Commissioner in October 2014, was confirmed by the Senate for a new term expiring June 30, 2023. He will be sworn in at a later date.

The NRC is comprised of five Commissioners, one of whom is designated by the President as Chairman. The Commission was established to be a collegial body that formulates policies, develops regulations, issues orders to licensees and adjudicates legal matters. The Commissioners serve five-year terms, with one term expiring every year on June 30. No more than three Commissioners may be of the same political party.

Commissioner Caputo previously served as senior policy advisor for Chairman John Barrasso on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. She also held this position for then-Chairman James Inhofe from 2007-2012. From 2005-2006 and 2012-2015, Commissioner Caputo worked for the House Committee on Energy & Commerce, handling nuclear energy issues. Prior to her positions on Capitol Hill, she worked for Exelon Corporation. A graduate from the University of WisconsinMadison, she holds a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering.

Commissioner Wright previously served as President of Wright Directions, LLC, a strategic energy consulting and communication business. He also served as a member and Chairman of the South Carolina Public Service Commission from 2004-2013. He was elected and served as President of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners from 2011-2012. Additionally, he has served as a council member, mayor and member of the South Carolina House of Representatives. Commissioner Wright received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Clemson University.

Commissioner Baran previously worked for the U.S. House of Representatives for more than 11 years, during which time he served as counsel and senior counsel for two committees. He also worked on a range of NRC issues, including new reactor licensing, existing reactor oversight and decommissioning. Prior to his work on Capitol Hill, Commissioner Baran served as a law clerk for Judge Lesley Wells of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. Commissioner Baran earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in political science from Ohio University. He holds a law degree from Harvard Law School.

Original source can be found here.