Daniel Theisen, E.I.T.
Senior Nuclear Safety Specialist
Key Qualifications
  • USQ Process
  • DOE/NRC Nuclear Safety / Accident Analysis
  • Emergency Planning for Hazardous Waste Sites
  • Hazards Surveys and Hazards Assessments
  • Air Quality Analysis and Dispersion Modeling
  • NEPA Analysis and Document Preparation
  • Alternative Energy Analysis
  • Quality Assurance
  • Engineering Maintenance
  • Engineering Analysis
  • Database and Spreadsheet Applications
  • VBA Programming
  • DOE L Clearance

Education

BS, Mechanical Engineering, Tennessee Technological University, 1988

Experience Summary

Mr. Theisen is a mechanical engineer with over 28 years of experience providing engineering and nuclear safety support to US Department of Energy (DOE) operations. Mr. Theisen is a high integrity, high energy, conscientious worker. He is a team player who recognizes project interfaces and takes ownership to ensure they are seamless. He has a proven ability to conceptualize and implement workable solutions that save time and money. Mr. Theisen consistently exceeds client and management expectations. Additionally, he has strong written and presentation skills.

Present Position

Senior Project Engineer II, Strata-G Staffing Services, LLC, Knoxville, TN, 10/2015 - Present

Mr. Theisen is currently supporting URSCH2M Company LLC (UCOR), as a Senior Nuclear Safety Specialist in support of operations and activities on at the East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP) and other sites under their responsibility as the DOE Environmental Management contractor for the Oak Ridge Reservation.

  • Participates in the oversight of contractor implementation of the Nuclear Safety Management Rule (10 CFR 830 Subpart B) e.g., preparation, review and/or recommendation for approval of nuclear basis safety documents: Documented Safety Analyses (DSAs), Technical Safety Requirements (TSRs), Unreviewed Safety Questions (USQ), Safety Evaluation Reports (SERs), etc.
  • Evaluates implementation of Integrated Safety Management (ISM) as related to safety bases: identification, surveillance and maintenance of safety Structures, Systems, and Components (SSCs), safety-related Quality Assurance (QA), selection and implementation of safety-related standards, related nuclear safety management programs, etc.
  • Evaluates the nuclear safety posture of nuclear facilities and operations for PriceAnderson Amendment Act compliance, contract performance, operational readiness reviews, readiness assessments, and other periodic assessments. Participate in enforcement of Price-Anderson Amendments Act requirements.
  • Participates in nuclear facility design reviews, safety system status monitoring, etc.
  • Evaluates design and analysis uncertainties with the functionalities of systems as described in the DSA.

Professional History

  • Communicates nuclear safety issues through the site/office management to Department and contractor management and other stakeholders and assist in the resolution of these issues.
  • Participates in the development, review, approval and interpretation of nuclear safety Rules, Orders, Policies, standards, guides, and documents.
  • Participates in Departmental self-assessments in the area of nuclear safety, nuclear facility accident/incident investigations, and emergency response activities.

Senior Nuclear Safety Engineer,Nuclear Safety Associates (Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Ohio) 2010 – 2015

  • Evaluated more than 650 proposed changes/activities via the Unreviewed Safety Question Determination (USQD) Process.
  • Provided nuclear safety support for regulatory transition, integration, development, and forward implementation of safety basis documentation for D&D activities.
  • Developed safety basis annual update submittal.
  • Prepared Preliminary Hazard Screenings and Hazard & Accident Analysis documents for Nuclear Hazard Category 2 Facilities.
  • Established flowdown for TSR and other safety basis requirements.
  • Developed Nuclear Safety document preparation and guidance procedures.
  • Developed an Access database to track nuclear safety (USQ) reviews and safety basis changes.
  • Developed VBA modules to automate data extraction and summary reports for nuclear criticality safety.

Senior Nuclear Safety Engineer,Nuclear Safety Associates, Oak Ridge, TN,2010 –2011

  • Developed process hazards assessment, risk tables, and probabilistic event hazard analysis per NUREG-1520 in support of an NRC license application for the proposed International Isotopes Fluorine Products depleted uranium deconversion facility in Hobbs, NM.
  • Prepared probabilistic analyses of blast impacts from rupture and detonation of propane and natural gas pipelines and an aircraft crash analysis per NUREG 800 Section 3.5.1.6.
  • Developed and implemented responses to U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Requests for Additional Information (RAIs) for the Integrated Safety Analysis (ISA) Summary and License Application documents.

Senior Engineer and Project Manager,Tetra Tech, Oak Ridge, TN, 2000 –2010

  • Interfaced with clients to understand project plans; identified regulatory requirements; selected the preferred analytic tools and methods; and developed client deliverables.
  • Lead analyst and preparer for various environmental reports, environmental impact statements, and environmental assessments for DOE, FERC, NRC, and USDA. Projects include disposition of a fissionable uranium inventory; natural gas import terminal and pipeline distribution systems; and fossil energy and nuclear energy power plants.
  • Performed and/or interpreted air dispersion modeling to determine permit requirements and assess project regulatory compliance. Relevant dispersion models included SCREEN3, ISCST3, and AERMOD.
  • Performed multidiscipline environmental analysis and alternative energy analyses for nuclear power reactor projects per NRC guidance.
  • Performed accident analysis and modeled potential airborne releases for inclusion in Emergency Planning Hazards Assessment documents. Dispersion models included ALOHA, RASCAL, EPICode, and NARAC.
  • Managed and/or served as the lead analyst on multiple safety basis support documents for nuclear and other hazardous material facilities at the three DOE Oak Ridge Reservation sites.
  • Performed comprehensive safety basis document review and inventory process for the DOE
  • Performed and managed a dynamic computer simulation/evaluation to assess the resilience of a radioactive material containment cask when subjected to a variety of transportation accident scenarios. Applied the LSDyna finite element code to perform the analysis and prepared all technical calculations and deliverables.
  • Redeveloped the Quality Assurance Manual for the Tetra Tech office in Oak Ridge to align quality procedures with current engineering practices and operations.
  • Applied Visual Sample Plan® software to identify sample locations for site remediation.

Senior Engineering Analyst - Nuclear Safety Analysis, SAIC, Paducah, KY, 1998 –1999

  • Served as lead analyst for selected nuclear safety accident scenarios at a uranium processing plant.
  • Applied the HGSystem/UF6 suite of dispersion codes to estimate consequences associated with accidental releases of uranium hexafluoride and hydrogen fluoride, and documented the results in a formal calculation package. Completed this task well ahead of schedule and below budget.

Mechanical Engineer II,Lockheed Martin, Oak Ridge, TN, 1989 –1996

  • Designed and tested a customized system to illuminate and view remote maintenance operations with a digital image processor for the Tokomak Physics Experiment.
  • Developed conceptual design of hot neutron scattering component for a nuclear research reactor to optimize thermal and structural performance and resolve maintenance issues.
  • Created finite element models of hot source for thermal and structural analysis, then validated model results through manual mathematical analyses.
  • Developed FORTRAN computer programs to assign nonlinear material property and heating data to finite element models and performed optimization studies.
  • Developed recursive and closed-form manual solutions to validate finite element model results.
  • Performed mathematical simulation of loss-of-cooling scenarios for various reactor components and validated results via finite difference algorithms.
  • Assisted with the design, construction, and test of a liquid nitrogen research facility to provide empirical fluid stability data for a volumetrically heated cryogen.

Entry Level Engineer, Westinghouse Savannah River, Aiken, SC, 1988 –1989

  • Served as pressure equipment protection manager for over 500 equipment items to support construction and operation of a large legacy nuclear waste process facility.
  • Prepared design calculations for relief valve and pressure vessel selection.
  • Developed database system to track and manage pressure equipment installation and maintenance.
  • Provided technical, administrative, and construction oversight.
  • Prepared equipment start-up procedures and technical oversight for equipment installations.
  • Designed safety upgrades including stairs, platforms, and equipment guards.

Professional Development/Training

Department of Energy “L” Clearance

Daniel Theisen, E.I.T.1