About the Speaker, Dirk Leach

Mr. Leach is currently the Executive Vice President of the Shaw AREVA MOX Services Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility (MFFF). Mr. Leach's responsibilities include assisting in the day to day management of the $4.8 billion MFFF project including engineering design, procurement, construction, Quality Assurance, licensing, Environment Safety and Health, estimating, and project controls. Mr. Leach is the senior AREVA manager on the project with responsibility for planning and logistics, staffing, and management of approximately 140 AREVA personnel including approximately 40 French expatriates.

Prior to joining AREVA and returning to Savannah River in January 2005, he filled a variety of positions for Fluor Government Group, including domestic and international operations supporting both the Department of Energy (Hanford and SRS) and the Department of Defense. In addition to his experience in managing large projects, Mr. Leach has led diverse teams involved with nuclear engineering and safety analysis. He began his career in Nuclear Operations with Westinghouse Electric Corporation, moving to the DOE sphere to lead and support Reactor Safety Evaluation activities at Savannah River before moving to Hanford.

Mr. Leach holds an MS in Environmental Engineering from Washington State University and a BS in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Michigan.