Newport named Diablo Canyon inspector by NRC

Christopher Newport has been named the new senior resident inspector at California’s Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant located in NRC Region IV, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) announced on Friday.

Newport steps into his role as senior resident inspector with eight years’ experience working for the NRC, first as a project engineer at the Region I office in King of Prussia, Penn., and then as the resident inspector of the Seabrook nuclear power plant in Seabrook, N.H.

“Chris’ technical experience and regulatory perspective will assist the NRC in carrying out its mission to protect people and the environment by ensuring the safe operation of the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant,” NRC Region IV Administrator Kriss Kennedy said.

Prior to the start of his career with the NRC, Newport served as a nuclear submarine officer in the U.S. Navy. He is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in control systems engineering, and of Catholic University, where he was awarded a master’s degree in engineering management.

The Diablo Canyon nuclear plant is located in San Luis Obispo County, Calif., and is currently the only operational nuclear power plant in California. The two reactors within the plant produce approximately 8.6 percent of the total electricity consumed by the state.