Luis Reyes has more than 35 years of nuclear experience. He served in various Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) senior management positions, and the NRC consistently received the highest rating on its Government Performance Assessment review during his tenure. Reyes also served as executive-on-loan to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to conduct a nuclear safety review at the DOE Assistant Secretary’s request. He was an expert consultant to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the areas of operations experience, new nuclear plant construction, and regulatory organizations. On behalf of the IAEA, Reyes led a team of international experts in the review of a European country’s regulatory organization.
Reyes’ numerous honors and awards include the Presidential Distinguished Rank award and the Presidential Meritorious Rank award, which he was awarded three times. These awards are distributed by the President of the United States to a small group of career senior executives and senior career employees. Reyes earned a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering and a Master of Science in nuclear engineering from the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez. He also attended the Federal Executive Institute at the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government.
Research and Professional Experience
2011 to Present: Owner, Luis Reyes Consulting LLC. Mr. Reyes is a Director for the Board of First Energy Corporation, a Member of the INPO Training and Accreditation Board, a Member of the NuScale Technical Advisory Board, Chairman of the Duke Energy Corporation Nuclear Safety Review Board, Chairman of the Southern Nuclear Corporation Vogtle Construction Review Board and a Member of the Japan Nuclear Safety Institute International Advisory Committee. In these activities Mr. Reyes acts as a nuclear safety, nuclear regulation and nuclear facilities operating experience expert.
2008 to 2011: Regional Administrator, U.S Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Luis directed all regulatory inspection activities for the commercial nuclear plants in the Southeast of the USA, all Fuel Facilities in the USA, the construction of all commercial nuclear facilities in the USA and the examination of candidates for operators of nuclear commercial nuclear plants located in the Southeast of the USA.
2004 to 2008: Director of Operations, U.S Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Most recently, Luis was the Executive Director for Operations for the NRC, directing the operations of 4,000 employees and a budget of 1 billion dollars. In this position, which involved frequent interactions with NRC licensees, industry groups including the Nuclear Energy Institute and the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations, and numerous stakeholders, he gained a thorough understanding of nuclear safety and quality programs. In addition, Luis established the NRC Center for Construction inspection to oversee all new nuclear construction in the United States.
1978 to 2011: Project Manager, U.S Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Luis frequently interacted with the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) by participating in the Nuclear Power oversight Committee meetings and the NEI Nuclear Energy Assembly. He also served as executive-on-loan to the Department of Energy (DOE) to conduct a nuclear safety review at the request of the DOE Assistant Secretary. He was an expert consultant to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the area of operations experience, new nuclear plant construction and regulatory organizations. On behalf of the IAEA, Luis led a team of international experts in the review of the regulatory organization of a European country. Under his leadership, the NRC received recognition and praise multiple times as the best place to work in the federal government and as a “Best Diversity Company.” During his tenure, the NRC budget was significantly increased, and the Commission consistently received the highest rating on the Government Performance Assessment review.
Education and Training:
- MS, Nuclear Engineering, University of Puerto Rico- Mayaguez, 1975
- BS, Electrical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, 1973
- Harvard Business School, 2018
Synergistic Activities
- Presidential Distinguished Rank Award, 2007
- Presidential Meritorious Rank Award, 1991,1999,2003