The Department of Energy has selected Ray Geimer to manage the Hanford nuclear site, overseeing a $3 billion annual budget and approximately 13,000 workers involved in one of the nation’s largest environmental cleanup projects.
Geimer, currently manager of the Hanford 222-S Laboratory contractor, will assume the DOE Hanford site manager position on September 7. He replaces Brian Harkins, who has served as acting manager since Brian Vance resigned on April 24.
With over 40 years of experience in DOE environmental cleanup projects, Geimer brings expertise in nuclear facility construction, operations, deactivation, decommissioning, and large-scale project management. Roger Jarrell, DOE principal deputy assistant secretary, highlighted Geimer’s qualifications in a Wednesday memo to environmental management employees.
“With a master’s degree in chemical engineering, decades of experience with the Department of Energy and expertise delivering on a wide variety of cleanup responsibilities, Ray is well positioned to lead Hanford into the next chapter of cleanup success,” Jarrell stated.
Geimer’s appointment coincides with a critical milestone in Hanford’s environmental remediation efforts. By October 15, DOE expects to begin converting millions of gallons of radioactive waste stored in leak-prone underground tanks into stable glass form for disposal. Construction on the massive vitrification plant began 23 years ago.
The Hanford site near Richland produced nearly two-thirds of plutonium for America’s nuclear weapons programme from World War II through the Cold War, leaving radioactive and hazardous chemical contamination across the 580-square-mile facility.
Most cleanup work is performed by DOE contractors, including Navarro-ATL, which Geimer has led since 2022. The 222-S Laboratory operated by Navarro-ATL represents one of few facilities nationally capable of analysing highly radioactive waste samples.
Geimer previously managed the Hanford 100-K Area, where K East and K West reactors once operated for plutonium production. He oversaw an $80 million annual budget and a $311 million construction project for a nuclear waste packaging and transport facility.
His experience extends to DOE sites in New York, Idaho, and Colorado. Geimer holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Clarkson University and a master’s degree from the University of Idaho, along with a U.S. patent for high-temperature waste treatment.
Harkins will remain with the Hanford leadership team as acting deputy manager, supporting Geimer’s transition. Harkins previously served as DOE Hanford deputy assistant manager for tank farms and Office of River Protection acquisition programme manager.
Former manager Vance now leads Framatome’s Richland nuclear fuel manufacturing plant after departing Hanford for undisclosed reasons.
The leadership change occurs as Hanford approaches a pivotal phase in its decades-long cleanup mission, with the vitrification plant nearing operational status to address the site’s most dangerous legacy waste.
