Susan Cooper
Susan Cooper is a Senior Reliability and Risk Engineer in the USNRC’s Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research. Dr. Cooper has been with the NRC for over 20 years, performing and leading research in human reliability analysis (HRA) and PRA areas. Currently, Dr. Cooper is the lead for the multi-unit and integrated site risk task in the sitewide, all hazards Level 3 PRA project. Dr. Cooper's other work has included EPRI/NRC Fire Human Reliability Analysis Guidelines, qualitative analysis of spent fuel handling and cask drops, human error in radiation therapy, Level 2 Human Reliability Analysis. Prior to joining the NRC, Dr. Cooper worked for fourteen (14) years as an HRA/PRA consultant for Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) where she performed a variety of nuclear power and non-nuclear power HRA and PRA tasks in both the U.S. and internationally. Dr. Cooper's work with SAIC included several NRC research projects, including the development of the HRA method "A Technique for Human Event Analysis (ATHEANA)" and "A Process for Risk-Focused Maintenance (NUREG/CR-5695)" which lead to the Maintenance Rule. Dr. Cooper also spent two years with Texas Utilities Electric Company on its PRA staff. Dr. Cooper has three Nuclear Engineering degrees. She received her bachelor's degree from Kansas State University and her Master's and PhD from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Page Last Reviewed/Updated Monday, January 26, 2026
