Organization
Mike McNamara
President
Mike joined URS 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 company's 2005 "Presidents Award" for accomplishment of one million consecutive exposure hours of accident free work.
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 and Acting Chief Operating Officer
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.
