DeLeah Lockridge now leading engineering services at ITER
DeLeah Lockridge, previously a senior R&D staff member in the Nuclear Operations and Licensing group at the United States Department of Energy鈥檚 Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), has joined the ITER Organization as head of the Engineering Services Department.
The ITER Council formally appointed Lockridge to the position in June 2024.
The Engineering Services Department is instrumental for ITER assembly and commissioning of subsystems now underway. In past engineering and management roles, Lockridge supported completion of Units 3 and 4 at the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant in Waynesboro, Georgia.
鈥淭his showcases the integrated capabilities and expertise that ORNL brings to bear to accelerate fusion energy coming online to serve humanity,鈥 said Mickey Wade, associate lab director for ORNL鈥檚 Fusion and Fission Energy and Science Directorate. 鈥淒eLeah has engaged internationally on workforce development and we鈥檙e pleased that she can continue those efforts on behalf of ITER.鈥
鈥淎dding talent from the United States to ITER is valuable for the international project,鈥 said Kathy McCarthy, the US ITER Project Director. 鈥淒eLeah鈥檚 experience with nuclear power plant construction is extremely valuable for this stage of ITER assembly and preparation for operations.鈥
鈥淥ver the past few weeks, I鈥檝e seen that the ITER team is passionate about fusion and making this project successful,鈥 Lockridge said after her arrival in October. 鈥淚TER brings together talent from across nations, cultures, and backgrounds to accomplish something incredibly impactful鈥攖ogether.鈥
The United States participates in the ITER project through , a Department of Energy Office of Science project managed by with partner labs and . US ITER offices are located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.