Tom Summers: The Balance of Safety and Mission in Nuclear Operations

In this episode of NucleCast, Adam interviews Tom Summers, the acting chairman of the Defense Nuclear Facility Safety Board (DNFSB). They discuss the DNFSB's mission to ensure safety in nuclear operations, the balance between safety and mission accomplishment, the challenges of aging infrastructure, and the board's commitment to modernization and technological advancements. Tom emphasizes the importance of safety oversight in the context of national security and the need for a next generation of nuclear safety leaders.

Thomas A. Summers was appointed Vice Chair of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board in August 2020. He is currently the Acting Chair of the Board. Mr. Summers was twice confirmed by the Senate and appointed by the President for a term through October 2025. He previously served as the Senior Advisor to the Deputy Administrator and as the Deputy for Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation in the National Nuclear Security Administration Office of Defense Programs. He is a retired U.S. Air Force colonel with over three decades of active duty in a variety of command, teaching, military staff, and scientific positions.

Socials:

• Follow on Twitter at @NucleCast
• Follow on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nuclecastpodcast
• Subscribe RSS Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/
• Rate: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclecast/id1644921278
• Email comments and topic/guest suggestions to [e-mail]