Steven Arndt, distinguished R&D staff member in the Nuclear Energy and Fuel Cycle Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, began a one-year term on June 16 as the 68th President of the American Nuclear Society.
ANS is the largest organization dedicated to the study of nuclear sciences in the world, with more than 10,000 members throughout 50 plus countries. The society unites those studying nuclear sciences and technologies from the vantage point of improving people’s lives and preserving the planet.
“ANS is an important organization for the nation and the nuclear community, and we’re pleased to see Steven take the reins and help shape the next year for ANS,” said ORNL Director Thomas Zacharia. “Steven’s passion for nuclear science and engineering is evident in his four decades of experience, and I know he will take full advantage of this opportunity to advocate for the future of nuclear.”
Arndt joined ORNL as a distinguished scientist in 2021 and has taught as an adjunct professor in the University of Tennessee, Knoxville Department of Nuclear Engineering since 2016.
Prior to ORNL, Arndt spent over 30 years with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, most recently as a senior technical advisor in the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. He has dedicated his career to advancing both the efficiency and safety of nuclear technology around the world, including in the Soviet Union during the aftermath of the Chernobyl nuclear accident.
In 2020, the National Society of Professional Engineers awarded Arndt with its NSPE Award, the highest award given to a professional engineer. He holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering physics from The Ohio State University, master’s and doctorate degrees in nuclear engineering from OSU and a master’s in reliability engineering from the University of Maryland.
An ANS fellow and a member of the organization for 41 years, Arndt is the third ORNL staff member to serve as ANS president: Lab Director Alvin Weinberg was ANS president from 1959 to 1960, and Melvin Feldman was president from 1975 to 1976. Joseph Dietrich, who served as ANS president from 1977 to 1978, also worked at ORNL several decades before his presidency.