PNNL

Nick DiNunzio is a senior nuclear advisor in the Energy and Environment Directorate’s Risk and Environmental Assessment Group at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL).

Prior to joining PNNL, he retired from the Department of Energy (DOE) as a deputy assistant general counsel for Civilian Nuclear Programs. He primarily supported the DOE’s Offices of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management, Environmental Management, and Nuclear Energy. A major part of his career has been dedicated to the development of the Yucca Mountain repository. He was also one of the team leads in developing and issuing a statutory interpretation of High-Level Waste which opens new disposal pathways for DOE reprocessing waste. 

DiNunzio is a recipient of several awards, most notably: the Secretary of Energy Achievement Award for the Nuclear Waste Management Cloud Project Team; a 2023 Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Pathway to Excellence Award on behalf of the Secretary of Energy; the Distinguished Career Service Award in 2021; a 2020 recipient of a Presidential “2020 Gears of Government Award” for contributions in accelerating the closure and disposal of high-level radioactive waste sites; and the 2009 General Counsel’s “Award for Leadership” for significant contributions to the Yucca Mountain Project.  

JD, George Mason University

MPA, Troy University

BASc in communications, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University

Virginia State Bar Association

• Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Pathway to Excellence Award on behalf of the Secretary of Energy, 2023  
• Distinguished Career Service Award, DOE, 2021
• The Secretary of Energy Achievement Awards, Nuclear Waste Management Cloud Project Team, 2021
• Presidential 2020 Gears of Government Award, 2020
• General Counsel's Award for Leadership, 2009