B&W Y-12 names Bill Reis as vice president of public, governmental affairs

Bill Reis has been appointed vice president of public and governmental affairs for B&W Y-12, the contractor that manages and operates the Y-12 National Security Complex.

Reis has worked at Y-12 for 30 years in a variety of roles, a press release said. He most recently served as vice president for environment, safety, and health. During his tenure, B&W Y-12 achieved Voluntary Protection Program, or VPP, Star status, reduced the recordable injury rate by 30 percent, and developed a more robust health and wellness program. In this role, he has also been the site’s primary interface with local, state, and federal environmental agencies.

Before that, Reis served as vice president of program management and business development, where he was the company’s primary interface with stakeholders including national weapons design laboratories, National Nuclear Security Administration clients, and congressional staff, the release said. Reis has had two special assignments at the NNSA as a Defense Programs Science Council member and as a senior program liaison.

Reis earned a bachelor’s degree in material science and engineering from the University of Florida and a master’s degree in engineering management from the University of Tennessee. He also graduated from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business Executive Management Program.

Reis volunteers as board or advisory board member of Ijams Nature Center, Second Harvest Food Bank, and Oak Ridge Medical Center.

Yvonne Bishop will serve as the acting vice president for environment, safety, and health, or ES&H, the release said. Bishop was most recently senior director and deputy manager for ES&H. She has more than 20 years of experience in ES&H work, construction, maintenance, training, compliance, and performance assurance.

Bishop has a master’s degree in occupational safety from the University of Tennessee, a bachelor’s in environmental science/chemistry from Middle Tennessee State University, and a bachelor’s in education from East Tennessee State University.

Reis is replacing Jud Simmons, who is returning to his responsibilities at The Babcock & Wilcox Company following his assignment as B&W Y-12’s acting director for public and governmental affairs.