Organization
Mike McNamara
President
Mike joined URS Washington Division in November of 2003, as the General Manager of Washington Government Environmental Services Company LLC, Government Technical services Division (GTSD).
Mike has more than 30 years of experience in the nuclear business. He worked as an engineer during construction of nuclear power plants in the 1970's and 1980's, as an engineer and manager at an operating nuclear power plant for over a decade, and as an executive on the design, licensing, manufacture and installation of domestic and international spent nuclear fuel storage systems.
Mike has Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering. He is also the recipient of the Electric Power research Institute's (EPRI) 1993 "Innovator Award" for his contributions to the electric utility industry, and the American Society of Mechanical Engineer's (ASME) 1998 "Distinguished Engineer of The Year Award" for demonstrated excellence and outstanding achievements in engineering. Mike also received the Washington Group International 2005 "Presidents Award" for accomplishment of one million consecutive exposure hours of accident free work.
Duane Schmoker
Vice President – Marketing and Business Development
Duane was the principle architect in developing the THOR Treatment Technologies’ joint venture business relationship between URS Washington Division and Studsvik, Inc. He has over 30 years of experience in the nuclear industry serving in both the government and commercial market sectors.
Duane began his career with Westinghouse Hanford Company, and he has held executive positions in companies serving the global nuclear industry. He has been responsible for the design and development of a variety of systems used extensively throughout the nuclear industry for waste treatment, transportation, and disposal. He has patents for remote and robotic inspection systems, dry spent fuel storage systems, and cargo security systems.
In addition to his responsibilities for THOR Treatment Technologies, Duane is Vice President of Business Development for Washington Group International’s Energy and Environment business unit. In this role, Duane has won several awards for his leadership and contributions to the company’s receipt of over $10 billion in new business. He was the recipient of the company’s “New Business Award of the Year” in 2004 for his contributions to the company’s winning bid for the Idaho National Laboratory management contract.
Duane has a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Washington with advanced studies at Oregon State University.
Leo Thompson
Chief Operating Officer
Mr. Leo Thompson has over 25 years of experience in hazardous and radioactive waste treatment in the US and internationally. He has managed thermal treatment projects for the US Department of Energy, the US Environmental Protection Agency, private industry and international clients including foreign governments including Australia, Taiwan, Japan and within the European Union. He has extensive experience in research and development, demonstration and technology commercialization. He holds a number of US and international patents for waste vitrification processes including a processes currently being used in Japan for the commercial treatment of hazardous wastes. He is the principle inventor of the Bulk Vitrification process and led the development of that process as a supplemental treatment method for Low Activity Waste at the Hanford site.
In addition to his role as COO of THOR Treatment Technologies, Mr. Thompson is the Vice President of Engineering for Studsvik, Inc. Prior to these positions, Mr. Thompson served as the Technology Director and Division Manager for AMEC’s global vitrification business. Mr. Thompson started his career with Battelle, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, developing waste treatment technologies.
Mr. Thompson holds a BS degree in Chemistry from Western Washington University.
Brad Mason
Chief Engineer
Mr. Mason is a licensed Chemical Engineer with over 30 years of experience. He was responsible for all design, engineering, process qualification testing, and startup of the Studsvik Processing Facility now operating commercially in Erwin, TN. He is the holder of numerous patents related to chemical decontamination of radioactive systems and thermal processing of radioactive and hazardous wastes.
Mr. Mason developed the THOR® pyrolysis/steam reforming process for volume and weight reduction of high-organic content LLRW with contact radiation levels of up to 400 Rad per hour. He developed the THOR® steam reforming process for denitration of sodium nitrates and conversion of sodium wastes to mineralized solids. He designed, built and successfully operated a ceramic-lined, cold-wall melter used for vitrification of surrogate Hanford high sodium wastes.
Kevin Ryan
Testing and Operations Manager
Mr. Kevin Ryan has over 30 years of experience in operations, project, and technical management in the nuclear industry. He has worked at the INL, Hanford, and Rocky Flats Sites, where he managed major nuclear facilities and projects dedicated to nuclear fuel handling and processing, plutonium treatment, and waste processing. He has managed all pilot plant testing and demonstration activities involving the THOR® fluidized bed steam reforming and autoclave pyrolysis technologies. Key among these was the demonstration of the integrated THOR® technology for the processing of INL SBW, which facilitated IWTU process design and the granting of required environmental permits for construction of the production facility. He also led the pilot plant test campaigns that demonstrated:
- The processing of SRS Tank 48H waste simulant into a waste form suitable for final treatment at DWPF.
- The processing of INL SBW waste simulant into a fully mineralized, non-leachable waste product, should an alternate disposition path be required.
- The processing of a high-organic chloride drummed TRU waste simulant into a waste form acceptable for disposal at WIPP.
- The processing of misc. debris drummed TRU waste simulants into a waste form acceptable for disposal at WIPP.
Kristen Perkins
Chief Financial Officer
Mrs. Kristen Perkins has over 12 years of financial and business management experience in the nuclear industry. Kristen began her career at the Rocky Flats Site where she managed the financial operations for Rocky Mountain Remediation Services and then Safe Sites of Colorado for 7 years. Kristen also served as Chief Financial Officer for both companies as they completed their mission to successfully close the Rocky Flats site and closed operations. For THOR Treatment Technologies, Kristen has provided financial & business management support for 5 years, as a senior business manager for all of the company’s major projects, such as the IWTU demonstration testing and design.
Kristen has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Northern Colorado where she was a Magna Cum Laude graduate, and a Master of Business Administration degree in Finance and Accounting from Regis University. She is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the state of Colorado for the past 8 years, and is a member of the Colorado Society of CPAs and the American Society of Women Accountants (ASWA).
Phil Staats
Quality Assurance Manager
Mr. Phil Staats has over 30 years experience in the hazardous and mixed waste industry including seven years as a regulator with the Washington State Department of Ecology. He provides quality assurance support of the testing and permitting efforts at Hanford, INL, and SRS.
Phil has been responsible for the management and compliance of permitted facilities in both private industry and the government. His operations background and regulatory oversight experience bring a diverse perspective to his role as Quality Assurance Manager. He has held operations management and compliance positions at permitted facilities in Washington and California and was responsible for the oversight of deactivation of Hanford’s N Reactor fuel basin and its associated support buildings.
Phil has performed and responded to numerous audits, surveillances, and inspections to maintain quality assurance and environmental compliance. He is a qualified auditor and serves as the primary interface with regulatory agencies.
