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Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson today announced his appointment of Beverly A. Cook as the Manager of the Department of Energy's (DOE) Idaho Operations Office. She will begin transition immediately and assume full responsibilities in her new position on June 1, 1999.

"Beverly has been a tremendous asset to the work carried out by the department in the area of nuclear energy," said Secretary Richardson. "With an impressive background in managing facilities and research and development programs within the department, as well as her experience as a staff member with the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, Beverly Cook will bring a broad perspective to the management of this important field office."

In her new position, Cook will be responsible for the waste cleanup mission at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) and managing a wide range of research and development programs that span the department's environmental, energy, nuclear science and technology, and national security needs. The INEEL is designated as a lead laboratory for DOE's Office of Environmental Management (EM).

Cook has been Principal Deputy Director of the DOE's Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) since June 1998. This office is responsible for the development of next-generation and advanced nuclear power plants, disposition of NE's legacy materials, supporting the country's nuclear engineering and science education programs and developing several other nuclear technologies, such as space nuclear power and the production and distribution of medical and research isotopes.

Prior to assuming her current position, Cook was responsible for the disposition of the Office of Nuclear Energy's legacy materials and the safe shutdown of excess reactors and other NE excess nuclear facilities. From 1991 to 1998, Cook held various positions in NE, including Program Director for Space Nuclear Programs, responsible for the fabrication, quality assurance, and nuclear safety of the radioisotope thermoelectric generators that were provided to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for spacecraft power for the Cassini mission to Saturn, launched in October 1997. She also represented NASA and DOE in extensive communications with the public and press on issues related to the safe use of nuclear systems for spacecraft power.

In 1990, Cook served as supervisor of the Plant Systems and Components Division of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board. Her duties included evaluating the safety basis of DOE's nuclear facilities and assessing the adequacy of compliance to safety regulation and practices. From 1975 to 1989, she held a variety of technical staff and management positions with EG&G Idaho in the areas of commercial nuclear reactor design basis and severe accident research; aging, life extension and equipment qualification research and development; and the Three Mile Island Accident Evaluation. She also managed applied research and development in materials technologies for both nuclear and non-nuclear applications. Her experience includes a strong emphasis on nuclear facility operations.

Cook has 20 years of management experience and holds a B.S. degree in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Washington, in Seattle, Washington.

Warren Bergholz has been serving as the Idaho Operations Office's Acting Manager since February 1999. "I want to express my appreciation to Warren Bergholz for serving as the Acting Manager and for his contributions and excellent work," said Secretary Richardson. Bergholz will return to his former position as the Deputy Manager of the Idaho Operations Office.