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Bio

Rose Montgomery is a mechanical engineer with more than 28 years of experience in the nuclear energy industry specializing in nuclear fuel design, nuclear packaging design, and nuclear material disposal options. Based at 91���� (ORNL), she has leads projects in testing and post-irradiation examinations to advance research reactor and commercial power nuclear fuel design, performance, interim storage, and disposal options.

In 2024, Rose began a detail with the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) as Senior Advisor to the Material Management and Minimization (M³) team, with the objective of converting U.S. high-performance research reactors from high enriched to low enriched uranium (LEU) fuel, where Rose will work with the M³ leadership, the extended development team, and with the regulatory authorities to license and deploy new LEU fuels.

Previously, Rose led ORNL’s Used Fuel and Nuclear Material Disposition group, addressing challenges in storage, transportation, and reprocessing of nuclear materials. As ORNL’s lead investigator for the “Sibling Pin” project, she provided essential data on high burnup commercial spent fuel rods, a key initiative of the U.S. Department of Energy’s High Burnup Spent Fuel Data Project. The detailed examinations provided groundbreaking information on the physical state of the rods and potential changes resulting from interim dry storage activities.  Rose’s career includes technical leadership roles at the Tennessee Valley Authority and major domestic nuclear fuel providers, focusing on thermo-mechanical fuel design, post-irradiation testing, and the development of predictive models for fuel rods and assemblies. She has contributed to key DOE programs, including founding the accident-tolerant fuel development initiative and the Consortium for Advanced Simulation of LWRs (CASL). She has worked with the industry initiatives such as the Electric Power Research Institute Fuel Reliability Program and the Extended Storage Collaboration Program. Ms. Montgomery also spent many years as a consultant in nuclear packaging design. 

Rose currently serves as the Secretary/Treasurer for the American Nuclear Society Fuel Cycle Waste Management Division (FCWMD) and Chairs the ANS-57.5 working group, Light Water Reactors Fuel Assembly Mechanical Design and Evaluation. Rose also serves within the U.S. Women in Nuclear (WIN) organization and is a member of the Women In Nuclear Nuclear Executives of Tomorrow (NEXT) 2024 cohort. 

Rose is also active within ORNL’s employee resource groups and has served in various positions, including Women’s Alliance Council President (2023), Women’s Alliance Council Vice President (2022), and WINGS President (2019-2022).  Within these programs, Rose works with ORNL management to promote policies that improve morale, recruitment, and retention of all employees at ORNL. In 2022, Rose was honored to receive a YWCA Tribute to Women Honoree award in Science, Technology, and Environment for her innovative work in spent fuel research and her dedicated support of women working in science and engineering.

Rose received her undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of South Carolina and is registered professional engineer in the state of Tennessee. Outside of work, Rose enjoys sewing and knitting and is an accomplished portrait painter.

Awards

• R&D100 for the CASL VERA: /division/rnsd/awards/ornl-rd-100-award-virtual-environment-reactor-applications , ORNL wins 7 R&D 100 Awards 2016) 
• Secretary of Energy Honor Award for the (2018)

• YWCA Tribute to Women Award, Science & Technology category, (2022)

   

Professional Affiliations

• American Nuclear Society
• Women in Nuclear

Specialized Equipment

• Irradiated material and nuclear fuel examinations

Publications

Other Publications