David Tiktinsky

Head of Nuclear Regulatory Licensing

Mr. Tiktinsky has been an Senior Nuclear Regulatory Licensing Specialist and advisor to some of the most well known advanced nuclear technology companies in the nation. In this role, he assisted current and new applicants and licensees in licensing nuclear fuel cycle and medical isotopes facilities regulated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Mr. Tiktinsky previously had 39 years of licensing and project management experience working for the NRC. He has extensive knowledge of the commercial regulatory regime and all aspects of licensing, constructing, and regulating nuclear fuel cycle and medical isotopes facilities. His experience and knowledge can benefit NRC applicants and licensees seeking to successfully navigate the NRC fuel cycle related licensing process in an effective and efficient manner.

Mr. Tiktinsky has extensive knowledge in implementing review guidance from NUREG-1520, the Standard Review Plan for Fuel Cycle Facilities License Applications. His 39-year NRC career included Project Management of complicated fuel cycle facility licensing actions including commercial and government sponsored activities, and medical isotope facilities. It also included evaluations of security aspects of radioactive material facilities after the attacks of 9/11/01, certification of radioactive material transportation packages, and high-level nuclear waste disposal.

Mr. Tiktinsky has a B.S. degree in Mining Engineering from the University of Arizona.

Eric R. Oesterle

Head of Microreactor Regulatory Licensing

Mr. Oesterle previously had over 38 years of licensing, regulatory, project management, engineering, industrial and construction experience primarily in the nuclear power industry and at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). He has extensive knowledge of the regulatory frameworks for licensing, construction, operation, and regulation of new reactors, small modular reactors, and advanced non-light water microreactors.  As a Senior Nuclear Reactor Licensing Specialist, his experience and knowledge can greatly benefit NRC applicants and licensees seeking to successfully navigate the NRC’s power reactor related licensing processes in an effective and efficient manner.

Mr. Oesterle has extensive knowledge in developing policy, rulemaking and guidance for applicants for new and advanced reactor applications. His 15-year NRC career included several supervisory roles as Branch Chief for Operating Reactor Licensing, Reactor Safety Systems, License Renewal and Subsequent License Renewal. Leading edge roles at the NRC included project management of several new reactor design certifications and license applications, development of guidance for technical content of new reactor applications, as well as guidance for risk-informed, performance-based, technology-inclusive and advanced non-light water reactor applications. His over 20 years of nuclear industry experience included numerous construction-intensive projects such as steam generator replacements and other operating plant modifications such as emergency diesel generator additions, cooling water piping replacements, etc. Most recently, Mr. Oesterle has been involved with well-known advanced nuclear technology companies in the application of the NRC’s risk-informed, performance-based, technology-inclusive and advanced non-light water reactor application guidance as well as industry guidance in Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) document NEI 18-04 for developing the licensing and safety cases for these applications while also providing critical input to NEI efforts to advance proposals for more efficient and effective licensing of microreactors. 

Mr. Oesterle has a B.S. degree in Nuclear Engineering for the Pennsylvania State University.  

Michael Norato, Ph.D.

Director of Nuclear Facilities and Infrastructure

Dr. Norato has over 25 years of experience in chemical separations technologies involving used nuclear fuel and radioactive wasteprocessing, as well as experience in commercial nuclear industry regulation and nuclear facility decommissioning. His broad nuclear energy related background includes leadership positions at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (DOE-EM), the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL). 

Dr. Norato recently retired from INL, where he served as a Senior Advisor for Research Operations and Strategic Projects, after serving four years as Division Director for Fuel Cycle Science & Technology. His primary focus been the research and development of advanced technologies for nuclear fuel cycle and used nuclear fuel management, as well as other chemical and physical separations applications. 

At DOE-EM, he served as Director of the Office of Operations and Processes, as well as Acting Director of the Office of Major Construction and Modifications where he provided leadership and developed mission strategies, policy, and guidance for complex-wide engineering operations and processes, as well as to major construction projects and facility modifications to support EM’s mission. His NRC experience spanned the spectrum from lead chemical safety reviewer for the MOX Fuel Fabrication Facility license application, to component engineering reviews for new BWRs, to contract management, to nuclear materials facility decommissioning. Dr. Norato has extensive knowledge of the entire nuclear fuel cycle as well as experience in the commercial regulatory regime and all aspects of licensing, constructing, and regulating nuclear fuel cycle facilities, He also has broad knowledge of fuel cycle research development and demonstration at all scales and TRL levels. Dr. Norato holds BS, MS and PhD degrees in Chemical Engineering from the Syracuse University.