Results from the October 2026 Event
Building Tennessee's nuclear future: Leaders call for collaborative workforce strategy to meet growing industry demand
At ORAU's Next Steps for the Nuclear Workforce event on October 20, 2026, federal, state, industry, education, and labor leaders, including Deputy Secretary of Energy James Danly and Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, emphasized that realizing Tennessee's nuclear energy growth potential requires massive investment in skilled trades training, apprenticeships, and wraparound support services, alongside the launch of ORAU's East Tennessee Nuclear Workforce Demand Assessment projecting regional workforce growth by 2032.
Additional Information
View the Key Takeaways Document
Download the Key Takeaways document (.pdf)
View the 2026 Next Steps for the Nuclear Workforce event agenda
All activities will be held at the Pollard Center on ORAU's campus in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Parking is free.
There is no registration fee.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026 |
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| 12:00 p.m. - Doors Open |
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12:30 p.m. - Welcome Remarks
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12:40 p.m. - Opening Remarks
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12:50 p.m. - Keynote Address
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1:10 p.m. - Roundtable - Wins and Work to Do!
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1:55 p.m. - Closing Remarks
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2:00 p.m. - Mix and Mingle Networking Session in Pollard Lobby |
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3:00 p.m. - End of Event |
Speaker bios for 2026 Next Steps for the Nuclear Workforce event
Click on the cards below for more information about each speaker.
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James P. Danly
U.S. Department of Energy
James P. Danly was sworn in as Deputy Secretary on June 9, 2025.Before arriving at the Department, Deputy Secretary Danly was a partner and the Energy Regulatory Group leader at Skadden in Washington, D.C. This followed his service at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, first as the Commission’s general counsel then as the commissioner and chairman.
Deputy Secretary Danly was an officer in the United States Army. He served two tours in Iraq, receiving a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.
A graduate of Yale University, Deputy Secretary Danly earned his J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School. He clerked for Judge Danny J. Boggs of the Sixth Circuit.
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Chuck Fleischmann
U.S. House of Representatives
Congressman Chuck Fleischmann is a conservative Republican representing the 3rd District of Tennessee. The District is comprised of 10 counties: Anderson, Bradley, Campbell, Hamilton, McMinn, Monroe, Morgan, Polk, Roane, and Scott.Fleischmann serves on the Appropriations Committee, which is vitally important to the residents of the 3rd District. Within the Committee, he serves on three crucial subcommittees:
- Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies
- Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
- Defense
As well as serving on the Appropriations Committee, Fleischmann also sits on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Within the Committee, he serves on the Energy Subcommittee.
In the 119th Congress, Fleischmann was named Chairman of the Energy and Water Subcommittee of Appropriations. As Chairman, he leads the charge to fund the federal agencies and programs responsible for the United States’ national laboratories, nuclear security, and energy independence. In addition, this subcommittee assignment is of paramount importance to the northern region of the Third District, which is home to Oak Ridge National Lab, Y-12 National Security Complex, and a large environmental cleanup mission.
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Bill Tindal
Tennessee Nuclear Network (TNN)

Bill Tindal is currently detailed to serve as the director of the Tennessee Nuclear Network (TNN), where he leads statewide efforts to strengthen Tennessee’s nuclear workforce, expand collaborative partnerships, and advance strategic initiatives supporting the region’s rapidly growing nuclear sector. Tindal serves in this capacity as a loaned executive from Omega Technical Services, where Bill is the Chief Executive Officer.
At Omega, Tindal has guided the company’s vision, mission, and long‑term strategy, drawing on more than 35 years of leadership and operational experience in highly hazardous nuclear facility operations. Before becoming CEO, he served as Omega’s President, overseeing day‑to‑day operations, financial performance, and companywide resource alignment to support growth across diverse customers and markets. Tindal continues to remain engaged with Omega’s executive team while on detail to TNN.
Prior to joining Omega, he served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC, the management and operating contractor for the Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas, and the Y‑12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee—organizations comprising more than 10,000 personnel and managing annual budgets exceeding $2.5B. Earlier, as Chief Operating Officer, Tindal worked closely with leaders across both sites to strengthen internal operations, respond to emerging financial trends, and enhance collaboration with nuclear weapons design agencies.
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Meghan Millwood
ORAU
Meghan Millwood is president and chief executive officer of ORAU.
She provides comprehensive oversight, strategic direction, and leadership for ORAU and its diverse set of scientific and technical solutions that are helping advance national priorities in science, health, and workforce solutions.
Millwood works closely with government agencies and ORAU’s 170+ member university consortium to secure new programs and partnerships to further enhance ORAU’s national and international reputation. Millwood oversees ORAU’s flagship contract, the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, which ORAU manages for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
Millwood’s background includes more than 24 years of human resources experience with the past 20 of those at ORAU. Prior to assuming her current role in 2025, she served as chief human resources officer. She also previously served as director of compensation and benefits, operations manager, as well as other roles to include positions in talent management and a generalist function.
Prior to joining ORAU, Millwood worked in human resources at Polo Ralph Lauren for four years. Millwood received a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Tennessee and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Campbell University. She has a Senior Professional Human Resources certification. -
Ashley Stowe
ORAU
Ashley Stowe, Ph.D., serves as Chief Growth and Partnerships Officer. In this role, he leads the company’s business development, government services, and research and university partnerships efforts focused on strategic growth. Under his direction, Strategic Growth and Partnerships will expand ORAU’s business and diversify the company’s business portfolio while leveraging strategic partnerships, the high-quality work and exceptional performance of ORAU’s people, and continue to grow toward national impacts.Stowe previously served as the director of Y-12’s Oak Ridge Enhanced Technology and Training Center, and has a distinguished 18-year career at the Y-12 Nuclear Security Complex, including serving as the university partnerships program manager, technology transfer lead, CNS engineering internships program manager, fellows program manager, and director of Y-12’s Nuclear Forensics and Detection Division.
Stowe also serves as an adjunct professor of physics and astronomy at Vanderbilt University, is an adjunct lecturer at the College of Business at the University of Tennessee, and is an assistant professor in the Department of Nuclear Engineering at UT.
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Michelle Goodson
ORAU
Michelle Goodson currently serves as the director of the ORAU STEM Accelerator. In this role, Goodson advances key nuclear workforce development initiatives, such as the Partnerships for Nuclear Energy (PNE), a comprehensive research institute that consists of leading universities, community colleges and technical skill training organizations, industries producing nuclear reactors large and small, professional industry organizations, national research laboratories, and government agencies. Goodson is recognized as a Society for Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional and holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Tennessee, a Master of Arts in Human Resources from the University of Alabama and is pursuing a Doctor of Business at National University, focusing on Generation Z's retention in the nuclear industry.
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Curtis Roberts
ORANO
Curtis Roberts is the vice president of communications and press officer for Orano USA leading all aspects of external and internal communications.Prior to his current position,
Roberts performed specialized communications functions for the company, including director of digital media, online strategy manager, and renewables communications manager.His strategic communications and marketing experience includes roles in international corporations, a Fortune 500 company, a public relations agency, and nonprofit organizations.
The holder of two patents in digital communications and a Six Sigma Greenbelt,
Roberts earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Christopher Newport University and an MBA from the University of Lynchburg. -
Bruce Coulter
Chattanooga State Community College
Bruce Coulter, P.E., is a chemical engineering professional with over four decades of industry and academic experience, currently serving as a professor of engineering and chemical engineering technology at Chattanooga State Community College since 2011. He holds degrees from Auburn University and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, along with a Tennessee P.E. license since 2001. His career includes roles at Ampex Corporation, Graham Magnetics, Tandy Magnetics, and Reichhold Inc., specializing in wastewater treatment design, process hazards analysis, and regulatory compliance, plus independent consulting from 1999 to 2011. A senior member of AICHE since 1979 and an ABET program evaluator and commission member since 2014, he remains deeply engaged in both the engineering profession and engineering education. -
Christian Fuller
Sheetmetal Local #5
Christian Fuller is a 15+ year member of Sheet Metal Workers Local 5. He currently serves as Business Manager of Sheet Metal Workers Local 5, Executive Vice President of the Tennessee State Building Trades, Financial Secretary-Treasurer for the Knoxville Building Trades, and Executive Vice President of the Nuclear Council for SMART. He has previously served as a Foreman and General Foreman over nuclear HVAC systems, Training Director, and Business Representative for the Sheet Metal Workers Local 5. -
Daniel Smith
IBEW Local Union 270
Daniel Ray Smith is business manager of IBEW Local Union 270. During his short tenure, the IBEW Local Union 270 has nearly tripled its membership and Smith currently is the prime representative for more than 1,000 IBEW members on Department of Energy, TVA, and other various sites throughout the jurisdiction.He began his career as an electrical apprentice with the Oak Ridge Electrical JATC, and later became an instructor for the JATC. He has since worked for numerous electrical contractors, serving as foreman, general foreman, superintendent, and project manager on several large projects. In 2015, Smith was named training director for the Oak Ridge Electrical JATC. During that time, Daniel also worked closely with IBEW Local Union 270 advising and aiding with multiple labor relation issues.
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Tamara Fleischhaker
Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce
Tamara Fleischhaker is president and CEO of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, where she leads efforts to strengthen the business community and advance economic vitality across the Oak Ridge Corridor. With more than 20 years of experience in chamber leadership and economic development, she brings expertise in strategic planning, business development, and community engagement from organizations ranging from family-owned businesses to Fortune 500 companies. Her leadership focuses on strengthening the workforce pipeline, addressing housing and community capacity, and supporting small businesses and entrepreneurship. Fleischhaker is committed to fostering collaborative partnerships that ensure Oak Ridge's growth benefits the entire community, creating a region where businesses succeed and future generations can thrive. -
Cindy Lockett
Roane County Schools
Cindy Lockett is the career and technical education director for Roane County Schools. Under her leadership, Roane County Schools has launched and expanded K–12 CTE programming through strategic partnerships with industry and higher education, creating clear pathways to employment and lifelong learning for students.Lockett believes all students deserve equitable access to high-quality education aligned with their college and career goals, free from barriers that limit opportunity or skill advancement.
News About the Event
U.S. Department of Energy deputy secretary addresses workforce need in Oak Ridge
October 20, 2026
The Trump administration wants to quadruple the nation’s nuclear power capacity by 2050. But a shortage of skilled workers could make that expansion more difficult to achieve. That was a key message from U.S. Department of Energy Deputy Secretary James Danly during a visit to Oak Ridge, where he spoke at an Oak Ridge Associated Universities event focused on preparing workers for the growing nuclear industry.
Deputy energy secretary visits Oak Ridge to discuss nuclear workforce gaps
October 20, 2026
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy James Danly visited Oak Ridge Tuesday to discuss a worker shortage facing Tennessee’s growing nuclear industry. Danly joined Congressman Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN) and nuclear industry leaders at an event hosted by ORAU called Next Steps for the Nuclear Workforce. The event built on a similar summit ORAU held earlier this year.
DOE Deputy Secretary, leaders discuss nuclear energy workforce in Oak Ridge
October 20, 2026
Leaders from the federal government, industry, and skilled trades gathered in Oak Ridge to discuss how to prepare workers for the growing needs of the nuclear industry as President Trump looks to expand the workforce in America. ORAU hosted the Next Steps for the Nuclear Workforce event to continue the conversation about the need for nuclear energy workers.
