Ohio University alum Jeff Baran was sworn in as a commissioner for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Oct. 14.
Baran majored in Political Science and graduated from the Ohio University Honors Tutorial College. He also earned an M.A. in Political Science from the College of Arts & Sciences at Ohio University.
“Baran was nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate,” reports Penn Energy.
Baran took the oath of office in the Commission hearing room from Chairman Allison M. Macfarlane, who said, “We’re pleased to welcome Jeff to the Commission and look forward to benefitting from his energy and commitment to safety. We have substantial work ahead of us and I am confident that Jeff will make a valuable contribution to our mission.”
“NRC’s nuclear safety mission has never been more important,” said Baran, who became the 34th individual to serve on the commission since its inception in 1975. “I look forward to working with my colleagues and the NRC staff to advance the agency’s vital mission.”
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has five members, one of which is designated by the President as chairman. Commissioners formulate policies, develop regulations, issue orders to licensees and adjudicate legal matters. Members serve five-year terms, with one term expiring every year on June 30. No more than three Commissioners may be of the same political party.
Baran comes to the NRC from the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, where he most recently served as Staff Director for Energy and Environment. He previously served as senior counsel to the committee. During his tenure with Energy and Commerce, oversight of NRC was one of his primary areas of responsibility. From 2003 to 2008, he was counsel to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Prior to his work on Capitol Hill, Baran served as a law clerk for Judge Lesley Wells of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.
“Baran will serve the remainder of the term ending June 30, 2015, which was vacated by William Magwood IV. Magwood left to become Director-General of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)’s Nuclear Energy Agency,” says the Power Engineering website. “He received a bachelor’s and master’s from Ohio University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.”
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