The Nuclear Company Names Project Leader for First Fleet of Nuclear Reactors

(Art element courtesy of The Nuclear Company)

The Nuclear Company, which is leading gigawatt-scale deployment of nuclear power across America and pioneering the modernization of nuclear construction, announced the hiring of Hernando A. Madroñero as head of Nuclear Deployment, project executive.

Madroñero will lead construction of the company’s first fleet of nuclear reactors and brings more than 30 years of power generation experience.

His experience includes serving most recently as design and construction engineering director for Vogtle units 3 and 4 in Georgia — the only two nuclear reactors started and built in the United States in more than three decades.

The Nuclear Company in April opened its primary engineering and construction office in Columbia, South Carolina.

“Hernando’s deep experience in nuclear deployment will be invaluable as The Nuclear Company employs our design-once, build-many methodology and deployment platform to deliver fleet-scale nuclear power across America,” said The Nuclear Company Chief Nuclear Officer Joe Klecha.

Officials said surging energy demand calls for the baseload power provided by nuclear, which also creates head-of-household jobs.

However, the industry has long faced challenges, as nuclear projects are almost always over budget and behind schedule.

The Nuclear Company is working with Palantir Technologies to co-develop and deploy NOS, the first AI-driven software system built exclusively for nuclear construction.

Officials said NOS will transform the construction of nuclear reactors into a data-driven, predictable process, enabling The Nuclear Company to build plants faster and safer for less.

Madroñero previously worked for General Electric as senior vice president of GE-Hitachi Nuclear’s engineering division and as global executive leader of services engineering, fleet reliability and operations for GE Renewable Energy.

He also worked for Exelon Corporation in various leadership positions. Madroñero began his career serving his country as an officer in the U.S. Navy.

Madroñero has undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering from the State University of New York, Maritime College and the Illinois Institute of Technology as well as an MBA from the University of Chicago.

Meanwhile, Glen Chick and George Koucheravy, both of whom played crucial roles in the completion of Vogtle units 3 and 4, have come out of retirement to join The Nuclear Company in leadership roles.

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