TVA Chief Nuclear Officer & Executive Vice President Karl Singer today announced his plans to retire from TVA.
Singer is expected to remain at TVA for the next few months assisting with the transition to a new chief nuclear officer.
Preston Swafford, Senior Vice President of Nuclear Support, will assume responsibility for nuclear operations while Singer focuses his attention on Browns Ferry Unit 1.
“I appreciate what Karl has done the past few years during this important time in the history of TVA’s nuclear program,” said TVA President & Chief Executive Officer Tom Kilgore. “I understand how demanding it is to focus on the restart of Browns Ferry Unit 1 while trying to keep five operating units running.
“We look forward to the successful restart of Unit 1 in May. We expect to name a new chief nuclear officer soon and move to the next stage of our nuclear operation,” Kilgore said.
Singer has served as chief nuclear officer since spring of 2004. Prior to that, he was senior vice president of Nuclear Operations for five years and was directly responsible for the operation of TVA’s five operating nuclear units. As chief nuclear officer, he was also responsible for the $1.8-billion restart of Unit 1 at Browns Ferry. He joined TVA in 1993 after serving in the U.S. Navy.
“This is a decision I have been contemplating over the last year,” Singer said. “The past five years of work on the restoration of Brown’s Ferry Unit 1 have been a rewarding challenge, but I believe with the restart near, this is a good time to announce my retirement.”
Swafford joined TVA Nuclear in May 2006. He was formerly senior vice president of Exelon Energy Delivery Technical Services. He joined Exelon in 1995 and worked at the Dresden Nuclear Power Station for seven years.
No confirmation yet about the plant manager. Perhaps next week (though my understanding was that Dave was retiring fairly soon).