As I prepare to step away as President and CEO of UCOR, I want to simply say thank you—to our workforce, UCOR’s owners, our DOE customer, regulators, labor partners, elected and community leaders, stakeholder organizations, university and college partners, and the industry teammates and suppliers who helped make this mission possible.
Since UCOR’s formation in 2011, it has been a privilege to help lead “Cleanup Today for a Nuclear TomorrowTM” in the Oak Ridge Corridor—grounded in a clear Why–How–What and strengthened by a community that welcomed us and expected us to be a responsible corporate citizen.
UCOR’s story is straightforward:
WHY — Reduce legacy nuclear risk, protect people and the environment, and turn cleanup into enduring national and regional value—returning land for future missions and enabling a new nuclear economy. Just as importantly, it’s a belief in people: creating pathways to the middle class for Tennesseans, including those from rural and underserved counties.
HOW — Through Shared Governance: bringing key stakeholders’ right voices to the table, listening to those closest to the work, and making decisions that build safety, trust, and performance.
WHAT — Historic progress in cleanup, safety, liability reduction, and land returned for beneficial reuse—results that continue to reshape what nuclear environmental management can achieve.
One final reminder, inspired by Simon Sinek (Start with Why): success can be the biggest test. Don’t let the WHY go fuzzy—and don’t let transitions divide what’s been built. Protect the purpose and protect the shared-governance habits that sustain it.
Cleanup Today for a Nuclear TomorrowTM.
With respect and appreciation,
Ken Rueter
