Philip McKenna
Philip J. McKenna serves as the Deputy Director, Division of Reactor Oversight in the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR), and is a co-chair for the Palisades Restart Panel.
Mr. McKenna joined the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in 2008 as a Reactor Inspector in Region I. He was selected as the resident inspector at Salem in 2010 and transferred to Region II in 2013 as the Senior Resident Inspector at the Surry Power Station. In 2018, he reported to NRC Headquarters, Division of Inspection and Regional Support as a Senior Reactor Systems Engineer before becoming the Chief of the ROP Oversight and Support Branch. He also completed temporary assignments as the Acting Deputy Director of the Division of Operating Reactors in NRR, Chief of the Vogtle Project Office Branch in NRR and acting Deputy Director of the Division of Reactor Oversight Licensing in NRR before completing his last position as Chief of the Reactor Assessment Branch in the Division of Reactor Oversight in NRR.
Prior to joining the NRC, Mr. McKenna served as a submarine officer in the U.S. Navy for 25 years completing his last assignment as Executive Office, Naval Submarine Base New London. Mr. McKenna received a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Science from the U.S. Naval Academy and a Master’s Degree in Energy Management and Policy from the University of Pennsylvania.
Mr. McKenna joined the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in 2008 as a Reactor Inspector in Region I. He was selected as the resident inspector at Salem in 2010 and transferred to Region II in 2013 as the Senior Resident Inspector at the Surry Power Station. In 2018, he reported to NRC Headquarters, Division of Inspection and Regional Support as a Senior Reactor Systems Engineer before becoming the Chief of the ROP Oversight and Support Branch. He also completed temporary assignments as the Acting Deputy Director of the Division of Operating Reactors in NRR, Chief of the Vogtle Project Office Branch in NRR and acting Deputy Director of the Division of Reactor Oversight Licensing in NRR before completing his last position as Chief of the Reactor Assessment Branch in the Division of Reactor Oversight in NRR.
Prior to joining the NRC, Mr. McKenna served as a submarine officer in the U.S. Navy for 25 years completing his last assignment as Executive Office, Naval Submarine Base New London. Mr. McKenna received a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Science from the U.S. Naval Academy and a Master’s Degree in Energy Management and Policy from the University of Pennsylvania.
Page Last Reviewed/Updated Wednesday, February 26, 2025
