Eric P. Loewen has worked for 40 years at the intersection of nuclear science and technology in the nuclear navy, nuclear waste processing, a national laboratory, and now as Chief Engineer and Manager of the Chief Engineer’s Office with GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy in Wilmington, North Carolina. He is responsible for leading the Chief Engineer’s Office in support of new product and technology development, management of technical and enterprise risk, as well as mentoring and development of our technical talent.

Eric was Past Chair, Senior Industry Advisory Panel, Generation IV International Forum (SIAP-GIF). He also served as the American Nuclear Society's 2005 Congressional Fellow working in the office of Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE). At the Idaho National Laboratory he contributed to the development of a Generation IV lead-bismuth cooled reactor. He was Director of Research, Molten Metal Technology in Fall River, Massachusetts after serving 10 years in the U.S. Navy.

During his career, Loewen has received several awards including the 2018 NAYGN Continental SENSEI Award, the American Nuclear Society’s Presidential Citation, Young Members Advancement and Public Communication awards, and he was the DOE’s Outstanding Mentor and Outstanding Education Volunteer of the Year. He holds 50 US issued patents. Eric served in many positions with the American Nuclear Society including Board of Director, Treasurer, and 2011/12 President. Eric attained his BA in Chemistry and Math with a minor in Physics from Western State College and his M.S. in Nuclear Engineering and Ph.D. in Engineering Physics from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Kevin Burnett is an Engineer with GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy in Wilmington, North Carolina. Kevin moved to Wilmington in 2015 from Upstate New York after receiving his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology. Since then, he has worked at Brunswick Nuclear Plant in both the Engineering and Operations groups, held all the various positions as an NAYGN officer, and received his P.E. in Mechanical Engineering. 

He joined GE Hitachi (GEH) in 2020 as a Plant Equipment Design Engineer for Advanced Reactors, working on the Versitile Test Reactor (VTR), BWRX-300, and Natrium. He is into all things active, including volleyball, tennis, crossfit, and more! He also loves to cook and try new restaurants around Wilmington. If he’s not doing any of those things, he’s either relaxing with his dog, Carl, or traveling to a new destination.

Rob Schneider is the Principal Engineer for BWR Fuel Reliability in Core and Fuel Engineering at Global Nuclear Fuel (GNF).  Rob has over 35 years of experience in the nuclear industry, including Operations and Maintenance in US Navy PWR plants, ~5 years as a Startup Testing and Field Engineer in GE Nuclear Energy, and almost 30 years on the Fuel Performance team in Wilmington N.C. Since joining GNF in 1994, Rob has worked with teams of Engineers in GNF, at our utility customer plants, and at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) to drive fuel performance closer and closer to the ultimate goal of Zero Leakers.  

Rob is the primary liaison in GNF to the GE-Hitachi fuel inspection team, assisting in scope selection, interpretation of results, data analyses, and translating inspection findings into chemistry and operational guidance.  Focus areas include:  BWR offgas and reactor coolant fission product activity interpretation; helping plants minimize the operational and radiological consequences of fuel failures when they do occur; fuel failure root cause investigations and reports;  monitoring and maintaining in-reactor fuel performance statistics; BWR water chemistry including balancing the positive aspects of additive programs for Intergranular Stress Corrosion Cracking (IGSCC) and dose rate mitigation with fuel performance considerations; and implementing core design, rod pattern, and operational guidance to aid in optimizing BWR fuel performance and reliability. Rob received a B.E. Degree in Chemical Engineering from Manhattan College and completed US Naval Nuclear Power School in 1986.

Jordan Knerr is a Fuel Contracts Manager for Westinghouse Electric Company and holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) from Purdue University and a Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of South Carolina, Darla Moore School for International Business. 

Jordan currently supports new business opportunities and deliveries of Westinghouse's VVER-1000, VVER-440, and US BWR nuclear fuel products.

 Jordan previously worked as an engineer with Bridgestone Advanced Products and Materials in Findlay, Ohio where he supported new business opportunities and resolved product issues with customers. He brings with him 10 years of business and personal negotiation experience along with an avid interest in the subject.

Outside of business, Jordan is an avid car enthusiast, amateur racing driver, and international traveler.

Paul Rodi is a Senior Engineer for the BWRX-300 Plant Systems Integration where he is helping plan and lead the testing commissioning process for GE Hitachi.

Paul received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering from Texas A&M University. While in school, Paul started his nuclear career with Dominion Energy in 2007 as an intern on the ESBWR North Anna/Grand Gulf Combined License Application, teaching leadership development, and performing analysis and calculations in their mechanical design organization supporting their Nuclear Fleet.  During Graduate school, Paul worked on his research in Probabilistic Risk Assessment model recovery for critical station blackouts at South Texas Project.

After completing school, he spent the next 11 years as an engineer with Southern Nuclear Company on the Vogtle 3&4 project in various roles. These roles included Configuration Management, Mechanical/I&C Design, Lead Engineer of Supplier Compliance - Offsite Modules, and Digital I&C Test Engineer III in support of plant initial test program to bring the units to commercial operation. Paul is very excited to continue to build the future of Nuclear Energy with GE Hitachi.

Paul has been active in many ERGs including North American Young Generation in Nuclear where he has helped lead his previous chapter to win Best Overall Chapter in North America twice as well as being awarded an Individual Achievement Award and Future Awards. He serves as the Awards Chair for the continental organization.

In his spare time, he volunteers with FIRST Robotics (~150 lb robot high school competition), plays Ultimate Frisbee, organizes Charity Golf Tournaments and Trivia events. He likes to relax by traveling/adventuring internationally and playing board/video games.

Rithvik Kundarpu has his B.S. in Nuclear Engineering from Penn State. He started at GEH in 2022 with the Radiological Analysis team (soon to be Dose and Dispersion). He started as the Professional Development Chair in the fall of 2022 and continued in his position through 2023. He enjoys hiking, rock climbing, the outdoors, and watching TV.

Joseph Orellana is a Professional Staff Member within the U.S. House of Representatives Science, Space, and Technology Committee, where he covers Energy Research & Development (R&D) policy related to the Department of Energy and the National Labs network. His energy policy portfolio spans geothermal, nuclear, grid, and carbon dioxide removal. 

Joseph’s first introduction into policy began with the 2023 American Nuclear Society Congressional Fellowship, where he served in the Personal Office of Senator Whitehouse and helped contribute to advanced reactor legislation, NRC oversight, and green energy priorities. Joseph received his B.S. in Nuclear Engineering and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina State University, after which he joined GE-Hitachi’s rotational Edison Engineering Development Program. Following the Edison program, he spent several years performing fracture mechanics and transient analysis for commercial BWRs and next generation nuclear power plants. Throughout this time, Joseph was also heavily involved in the Hispanic Affinity Group, North American Young Generation in Nuclear, and American Nuclear Society, focusing on community service and teaching students about nuclear science.

TBD

Dr. Edward DiLoreto is a Materials and Process Engineer at Westinghouse Electric Company. He is an accomplished materials engineer with 3 years of experience in additive manufacturing and 9 years of experience in advanced manufacturing technologies. Edward received his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. 

In his current role as a materials and process engineer within Westinghouse's Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence (AM COE), Edward works to realize the potential of Additive Manufacturing technologies through various nuclear power component and tooling applications. Edward has led efforts in development and serialized production of Additive Manufacturing components for VVER (Water-Water Energy Reactor), BWR (Boiling Water Reactor), and PWR (Pressurized Water Reactor) Fuels, as well as non-fuel components.