B&W announces leadership changes at Y-12

The Babcock and Wilcox Co. on Friday announced top management changes at B&W Y-12, the contractor that operates the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge.

Among the changes: B&W Y-12 President and General Manager Charles G. “Chuck” Spencer, who started at Y-12 shortly after the July 28, 2012, security breach, will return to his former position as vice president and chief operating officer of Babcock and Wilcox Technical Services Group Inc. Spencer will continue his involvement at Y-12 and the Pantex Plant in Texas as chairman of the Board of Managers for both B&W Y-12 and Babcock and Wilcox Technical Services Pantex LLC, a press release said.

Spencer replaced Darrel P. Kohlhorst in August 2012. Kohlhorst abruptly retired after the security breach.

Spencer will be replaced by Dave Richardson, who will become president and general manager of Babcock and Wilcox Technical Services Y-12 LLC, or B&W Y-12, on Feb. 1.

Richardson most recently served as senior vice president and deputy general manager for operations at B&W Y-12, where he was responsible for production, engineering, and facilities, infrastructure, and service. He has more than 32 years of nuclear operations management experience, the press release said.

Before joining B&W Y-12, he was president of B&W Shaw Remediation, supporting the Naval Reactors Program, the release said. Richardson previously held senior positions at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory. His career also includes service as an officer in the U.S. Navy, including three years as commanding officer of the USS Baltimore nuclear submarine.

Richardson was named deputy general manager for operations at Y-12 in September 2012.

“During his time at B&W Y-12, Chuck has made a tremendous impact at the site in operations, safety, and security,” said George Dudich, president of B&W Technical Services Group. “Under his leadership in Fiscal Year 2013, Y-12 employees met defense, naval reactor, and nuclear non-proliferation production requirements; achieved more than $50 million in productivity savings; significantly decreased the recordable injury rate; and completed the successful transition of more than 500 protective force personnel into the Y-12 Safeguards, Security, and Emergency Services organization. Dave has worked closely with Chuck over the past year, and that experience will assure a seamless transition in leadership.”

Linda Bauer will take over for Richardson as deputy general manager of operations, the press release said. Bauer has served as vice president for facilities, infrastructure, and services since August 2012, and she was responsible for all aspects of facilities management and maintenance. Before joining B&W Y-12, she held senior operations manager positions at the Savannah River Site, Nevada Test Site, Paducah Environmental Remediation Project, and Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride Conversion Plants. Bauer earned a doctorate in environmental health physics from Purdue University.

Elester “Lester” Patten will succeed Bauer as B&W Y-12 vice president for facilities, infrastructure, and services, the release said. He has served as deputy manager of that organization since July 2013. Paten has more than 30 years of nuclear facility management experience.

Before joining B&W Y-12, he was deputy operations manager of base operations for Washington River Protection Solutions at the Richland and Hanford sites, and project manager at Savannah River’s Saltstone Production and Storage Facilities.

B&W is headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., and works in clean energy technology and services, primarily for the nuclear, fossil, and renewable power markets. The company is also an advanced technology and mission critical defense contractor, the release said. B&W has locations worldwide and employs approximately 12,000 people, in addition to approximately 10,400 joint venture employees. Learn more at www.babcock.com.