Kristine Svinicki


Kristine L. Svinicki is an American nuclear engineer and current chairwoman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Early life and education

Svinicki, who is one of seven siblings, was born in Jackson, Michigan. Both of her parents died when she was a teenager. She earned a bachelor's degree in nuclear engineering from the University of Michigan in 1988.

Career

Svinicki began her career as an energy engineer for the state of Wisconsin at the Wisconsin Public Service Commission. She worked as a nuclear engineer in the U.S. Department of Energy's Washington, D.C. Offices of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology, and of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management, as well as its Idaho Operations Office. She served as a staff member on the Senate Armed Services Committee for Sen. John Warner and Sen. John McCain.
She was sworn in as a commissioner of the NRC on March 28, 2008, and for a second term ending June 30, 2017. She was designated chairwoman by President Donald Trump on January 23, 2017. On June 26, 2017, she was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to a five-year term as the NRC's chairperson.