The Tennessee Valley Authority has tapped a veteran nuclear engineer who previously headed nuclear plants in Arkansas, Michigan and Connecticut to lead its Sequoyah Nuclear Power Plant near Soddy-Daisy.
Christopher Schwarz, currently vice president of corporate operations at Public Service Enterprise Group Nuclear in New Jersey, will become site vice president at Sequoyah on Monday. He succeeds John Carlin, who plans to retire at the end of the year.
“John has been a respected leader in TVA Nuclear and had a strong impact on the improved performance seen at Sequoyah during his tenure,” said Joe Grimes, TVA chief nuclear officer, said in a statement Monday. “We are fortunate to find another exceptional leader in Chris, who can step in to continue Sequoyah’s focus on achieving and sustaining top industry performance.”
With a nuclear background spanning 41 years, Schwarz has held a number of senior leadership positions, including site vice president of both the Arkansas Nuclear One and Palisades nuclear stations, vice president of operations support for Entergy’s northeast nuclear sites and site director for Dominion’s Millstone nuclear plant. A U.S. Navy veteran, he holds an engineering degree from Widener University.
The twin-reactor Sequoyah plant began power generation in 1981 and is capable of generating 2,274 megawatts, or enough power to supply about 1.3 million homes.