EPW Senate staffer and former reactor operator nominated to the NRC

President Biden has selected Matthew Marzano as his choice to fill the open seat on the five-member Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The panel of commissioners has had a vacancy since Jeff Baran’s term as commissioner ended in June 2023.

Marzano currently serves as an Idaho National Laboratory detailee for the U.S. Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee, advising EPW on policy matters relating to clean air, climate, and energy. Most recently, he advised the committee’s chairman on the ADVANCE Act, legislation designed to prepare the NRC for an expected surge in new nuclear reactor oversight.

Prior to this role, Marzano served as the 2022 Glenn T. Seaborg Congressional Science and Engineering Fellow. The yearlong fellowship, also known as the ANS Congressional Fellowship, gives nuclear professionals the opportunity to learn how policymaking affects nuclear science, energy, and technology by working directly for legislators or congressional committees on critical nuclear policy decisions.

From ANS: Craig Piercy, ANS executive director/chief executive officer, commended President Biden for nominating Matthew Marzano to the NRC.

“Mr. Marzano is a nuclear engineer with a long record in public service, advising on policy matters relating to clean air, climate, and energy,” Piercy said. "With his extensive experience, he is well qualified to join the NRC and would be a welcome addition. We believe that U.S. nuclear safety and security interests are best served by having a full roster of NRC commissioners with proven technical and professional qualifications. As such, we urge the Senate to act promptly on Mr. Marzano’s nomination.”

Background: Marzano combines his policy background with more than a decade of experience in the nuclear industry, during which he focused on nuclear energy systems for both defense and commercial applications.

Marzano began his career at Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory in 2012, supporting the U.S. Navy training mission as a reactor operations instructor and nuclear plant engineer. In 2015, he moved to Dominion Energy, where he spent two years supporting construction activities and qualifying as a senior reactor operator for the twin AP1000 reactor expansion project (since halted) at the V. C. Summer nuclear power plant. Following, Marzano joined Exelon Generation (now Constellation) at Braidwood nuclear power plant, supporting digital plant upgrades while obtaining a senior reactor operator license.

Marzano holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nuclear engineering from the University of Florida. He now lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife and 1-year old son.