Naval Reactor Facility employees have new boss

Fluor Marine Propulsion, LLC, is beginning a new Department of Energy and Department of Navy contract Monday for the United States’ Naval Nuclear Laboratory.

Prior contracts with Bechtel Marine Propulsion Corporation expired September 30 and will transfer to Fluor. The new contract was awarded in July.

The laboratory includes the Naval Reactors Facility located on the Idaho National Laboratory. Other entities include Bettis Atomic Power in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Knolls Atomic Power in Niskayuna, New York, and Kenneth A. Kesserling site in West Milton, New York.

The mission of the “laboratory” will not change, but the entire workforce will transfer to Fluor Marine Propulsion.

According to Fluor, the Naval Nuclear Laboratory has over 7,500 engineers, scientists, technicians and support personnel. It has designed and developed nuclear propulsion technology for submarines and aircraft carriers for over 70 years.