NRC appoints fourth commissioner, forms IT security office
17 March 2008
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has appointed Kristine Svinicki as a commissioner and reappointed Gregory Jaczko for a second term as a commissioner. In addition, it will establish a new computer security office.
NRC chairman Dale Klein said on 14 March, "I am looking forward to the arrival of a fourth commissioner, Kristine Svinicki, who was confirmed to a term on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission by the Senate early today." Since 2005, Svinicki has been working as a professional staff member on the Senate Armed Services Committee. Between 1997 and 2004, she served as a senior policy advisor to Senator Larry Craig and prior to that Svinicki was a nuclear engineer in the Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology.
Klein said: "Her background as an engineer and a policy-maker at senior levels in our government will be a substantial benefit to the commission." He added, "Having a fourth commissioner on board will enable the NRC to better accomplish its mandate of protecting people and the environment." Once sworn in, Svinicki's term as a NRC commissioner will run until 30 June 2012.
In addition, the Senate confirmed NRC commissioner Gregory Jaczko to a second term. He joined the commission in January 2005 and his first term is due to expire on 30 June. His second term runs through to 30 June 2013. Klein said that the trend in recent years towards two-term commissioners "has contributed greatly to stability on the Commission and a consistency in the development of sound policy."
Meanwhile, the NRC has approved the establishment of the Nuclear Security Office (NSO) and has selected Patrick D. Howard to head the new office. The NRC said that Howard will "provide vision, leadership, and oversight in developing, promulgating, and implementing an agency IT security strategy." Prior to joining the NRC, Howard worked as the chief information security officer at the Department of Housing and Urban Development.