Morris named NPO assistant manager for environment, safety, health

Susan Morris has been named assistant manager for environment, safety, health, and quality for the National Nuclear Security Administration Production Office. The NPO oversees work at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge and the Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas.

Morris is responsible for oversight of contractor programs for health physics and radiological protection, industrial hygiene and occupational medicine, industrial safety, transportation safety, construction safety, chemical safety, fire protection, firearm safety, explosive safety, aviation safety, and quality assurance at the Pantex Plant and Y-12 National Security Complex, a press release said. She has more than 28 years of federal service.

Morris has had a broad range of responsibilities, including serving as the team leader and subject matter expert/program manager for industrial hygiene, occupational medicine, fire protection, and environmental programs, and she served as the Y-12 Site Office NEPA compliance officer, the release said.

She previously served as the assistant NPO deputy manager for environment, safety, health, and quality. She joined the U.S. Department of Energy in 1988 as an engineer in the Oak Ridge Operations Environmental Protection Division and was assigned to the former Y-12 Site Office in 1992. She previously was an industrial engineer for the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Morris received a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from the University of Tennessee, a master’s degree in fire protection engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and master’s degrees in environmental engineering and industrial engineering from the University of Tennessee. She is a certified safety professional, project management professional, and certified fire protection specialist.

The mission of the NNSA Production Office is to ensure the safe, secure and cost-effective operation of the Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas, and the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge. Pantex is responsible for nuclear weapons life extension programs; nuclear weapons dismantlement; the development, testing, and fabrication of high explosive components; and the interim storage and surveillance of plutonium pits. Y-12 is a key facility in the U.S. nuclear security enterprise and is responsible for uranium storage, processing, and manufacturing operations.

The NNSA is a semi-autonomous agency within the U.S. Department of Energy, and it was established by Congress in 2000.