Photo courtesy Idaho National Laboratory.
Leadership at Idaho National Laboratory is changing hands. On August 20, Ron Townsend of Batelle Energy Alliance’s Board of Managers, announced that Mark Peters, Ph.D., will take the director’s seat of the INL, starting on October 1. Peters is succeeding John Grossenbacher, who announced last year that 2015 would be his final year as director for INL.
“Mark’s recognized leadership in all fields of energy research—including energy storage, renewable energy, energy efficiency and nuclear energy—and national security makes him an ideal choice as the next Lab Director of INL,” said Townsend. “As the leading research institution for nuclear energy solutions, other clean energy options and critical infrastructure, INL will benefit from the strong leadership and passionate commitment that Mark has demonstrated throughout his career.”
Dr. Peters has quite the impressive resume. Before joining INL, he acted as Argonne National Laboratory's Associate Laboratory Director for the lab's Energy and Global Security directorate, which includes Argonne’s programs in energy research and national security. Peters is a recognized expert in nuclear fuel cycle technologies and nuclear waste management, and frequently speaks to Congress to advise on policies for nuclear fuel cycles, nonproliferation and nuclear waste disposal. He earned his doctorate in Geophysical Sciences from the University of Chicago and is an active leader with the American Nuclear Society (ANS), where he was recently named an ANS Fellow, the highest honor bestowed by the Society.
“I’ve had the opportunity to work with Mark on globally significant nuclear energy matters and am pleased to welcome him to Idaho,” said John Kotek, the U.S. Department of Energy’s assistant secretary for Nuclear Energy. “I look forward to our continued collaboration when he is in his new role as director of INL.”
Many thanks to Grossenbacher for his years of leadership at INL, and best wishes to Peters in his new position.