Management Team
Marilyn Kray – President
Marilyn Kray has been President of NuStart since its inception in 2004. She was instrumental in the formation of NuStart, its leadership and expansion to its current 10 member companies and is the primary company representative to industry and government. Marilyn is also Vice President, Nuclear Project Development for Exelon Generation Company at its Kennett Square, Pennsylvania office where she is responsible for licensing and engineering activities related to advanced nuclear reactors and also serves as an Exelon representative to the Nuclear Energy Institute and the Electric Power Research Institute. Prior to her current position with Exelon, Marilyn was Vice President of Nuclear Acquisition Support and Integration. In this role, she pioneered the internal processes for due diligence and plant transitions that were successfully employed in the acquisition of three nuclear plants: Three Mile Island, Clinton and Oyster Creek. In prior assignments, Marilyn helped develop Exelon’s customer choice program under Pennsylvania’s electric power deregulation legislation and served in the licensing organization at the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station. Prior to joining Exelon, Marilyn was a reactor engineer and project manager for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Marilyn is a graduate of Carnegie-Mellon University with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. She is the 2005 recipient of the World Nuclear Association award for Distinguished Contribution to the Peaceful Use of Nuclear Technology, and in 2007 received the American Nuclear Society’s Utility Leadership Award.
David J. Distel - General Manager
Dave started with NuStart in 2011 and has overall responsibility for NuStart’s operations. Dave joined Exelon in 2000 and is currently Principal New Plant Regulatory Engineer in the Exelon Nuclear Project Development Department. Dave has extensive nuclear licensing experience in the new plant development area, as well for the operating fleet. His new plant development responsibilities include licensing lead for the Exelon COL and ESP application projects for the proposed Texas site. Additionally, he has been actively involved in industry new plant activities through participation in NEI COL, ESP, and SMR task force teams, as well as participation on the ESBWR DCWG for the Exelon COL application project. Dave holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Richard J. Grumbir – Manager, AP1000 R-COLA
Richard Grumbir has been manager for the AP1000 R-COLA (Reference combined Construction and Operating License Application) since project kick off in December 2005. In this capacity Richard was responsible for cost, schedule, and quality regarding the development of the COLA, including contractor oversight, NuStart oversight, and Westinghouse support. These responsibilities continue through the NRC’s review and ultimately to receipt of the COL. Richard is also the Vice President – New Plants at Excel Services where he is responsible for licensing activities associated with new plant activities in the U.S. Prior to his present position, Richard held various management positions at D.C. Cook where he managed several projects including license renewal, improved technical specifications & 24 month surveillance cycle extension, Final Safety Analysis Report validation, and condition report backlog reduction. In addition, Richard also enjoyed 10 years at Crystal River in Simulation and in Systems Engineering. He received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Concordia University in Montreal, Canada.
Amy Greene Aughtman - Manager, AP1000 Licensing Team
Amy Aughtman has supported development of the AP1000 reference COLA since 2007. Upon submittal of the AP1000 reference COLA, Amy took a leadership role within the AP1000 DCWG by coordinating standardization across all member utilities, including support of the DCD Amendment activities, which led to her being named the AP1000 Standard Content Manager for NuStart. In 2011, she became the AP1000 Licensing Team Manager and the point of contact for the AP1000 Design Centered Working Group (DCWG). The AP1000 DCWG is the industry organization endorsed by the NRC to represent AP1000 COL applicants’ interests in the design and licensing reviews being conducted by the NRC on the new Westinghouse AP1000 passive safety nuclear reactor design. The DCWG is part of the “one issue, one review, one position” licensing approach central to NuStart’s mission and adopted by industry and the NRC to lower costs and expedite reviews of new nuclear generation reactor designs and project licenses. Amy also manages an expert team that supports Southern Nuclear Operating Company’s (SNC) objective of obtaining a COL for Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Units 3 and 4, and manages the corporate licensing group. Prior to her present position, Amy was the AP1000 Licensing Supervisor, supported development of the Vogtle Early Site Permit application and held various roles in the environmental compliance organization at SNC. Amy received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Alabama and is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Alabama.
Doug McComb – Manager, AP1000 Engineering Team
Doug McComb manages NuStart’s Engineering Team. Doug’s primary role at NuStart is to lead efforts to assist completion of AP1000 design engineering. He is also Engineering Manager for the Nuclear Development organization at Southern Nuclear Company’s (SNC) corporate headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama. In this capacity, Doug manages reviews and evaluations of new nuclear power plant designs to determine if they meet SNC expectations, regulatory requirements and industry best practices. He is currently supporting deployment of 2 Westinghouse AP1000 nuclear units that are being built at SNC’s Vogtle Nuclear Electric Generating Station near Augusta, Georgia. These units are scheduled to begin operation in 2016 and 2017. Prior to this assignment, Doug was the Design Modifications Manager for Farley, Hatch and Vogtle Nuclear Power Plants. He also served as the Engineering Manager for steam generator replacement at Farley Nuclear Plant. Doug received a BSME from Purdue University and an MBA from Samford University.
Richard L. Patch - Quality Assurance Manager
Dick Patch has been the NuStart Quality Assurance (QA) lead since September 2008. He has overall responsibility for assuring activities affecting quality are conducted in a manner that satisfies applicable NRC regulations and requirements as described in 10CFR50, Appendix B. The QA lead establishes the overall QA approach for the NuStart Project. Dick has over 35 years of commercial nuclear power plant experience including 28 years of quality assurance and inspection experience in support of nuclear plant operation and maintenance. Dick has held various QA positions including Corporate QA Manager for Entergy Nuclear Northeast, Director of QA for the New York Power Authority, Nuclear QA Department Manager for the decommissioning of the Shoreham Nuclear Plant and the Operations QA Manager at the James A. Fitzpatrick Nuclear Power Plant. Dick was in the United States Navy submarine service and completed the Navy's Nuclear Power Program. Dick also participated in N.Y. Regents College Nuclear Technology Degree program.
Beth Thomas - Communications Manager
Beth Thomas has served as NuStart Communications lead since 2009. She manages communications among all the NuStart member utilities. Beth serves as communications coordinator for Southern Nuclear Company’s Nuclear Development organization, managing all internal and external communications associated with the Plant Vogtle construction project. Beth is a graduate of Troy University with a B.S. degree in journalism and public relations. She has worked in public affairs at Southern Company since 1990.