CAPT Kenneth L. Highfill Biography



	CAPT Kenneth L. Highfill 16 Sep 1968 - 17 Jan 1972

EDUCATION Bachelor of Science, U.S. Naval Academy - 1955
U.S. Navy Nuclear Power Training - 1960
Professional Engineer (Nuclear) - California 1977

EXPERIENCE

1998 - 2001 Consultant to Nuclear Committee of the Board of Directors, PECO Energy, AMERGEN ASOC, and EXELON NSRB.
These groups provide senior oversight for all nuclear plants of the parent corporations. Mr. Highfill inspects each site four times per year, meets with plant personnel, reviews a variety and assessments they and senior line management should undertake.

1995 - 1998 Outside Member, PECO Energy Nuclear Review Board.
Conducts plant inspections and reviews operating, training, maintenance, engineering, outage, and licensing processes to help ensure compliance with Tech Spech, UFSAR and INPO requirements, with view toward ensuring the health and safety of the public.

1990 - Present Owner / Chairman, ASTA, Inc.
Owns and directs a small business incorporated in the State of California which mainly provides services to electric utilities. Those services include management consulting in the areas of plant organization, operations, maintenance, outage support, material support, engineering, radiation protection, administration, training and technical services for procedure writing, maintenance planning and logistic support.
Several important assessments were performed personally for the following clients: an assessment of the Technical Specification Surveillance Program for Turkey Point Nuclear Station; a Staff Organizational Assessment for the South Texas Project as well as assessments in the areas of PORC practices, Operations and Engineering Training, and the Corrective Action processes; a Plant Status Control Assessment for the Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, as well as assistance in Corrective Action Program enhancements; and a detailed review of the Radiological Controls program at CECO's Quad Cities plants.
The company was founded in 1980 and has served thirty-five different utilities and government organizations since then.

1987 - 1990 Vice President Nuclear Operations and Station Director, Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station.
Responded to an urgent need for a proven manager with a solid technical background to direct a newly hired senior management team in the recovery from a two-year outage. This recovery included completion of plant modification and repairs, training personnel for plant operation after a prolonged shutdown, development of plant restart and power ascension programs, and obtaining NRC permission for restart. Responsible for all Station activities including plant operations, maintenance, technical support, radiation protection, chemistry, radiological waste, planning, scheduling, outage support, material management, facilities, security, fire protection, and nuclear training. Implemented a more efficient organization, instituted more effective budget controls, executed a realistic recovery schedule, and restored the pride and morale of the plant staff. Successfully prepared for an INPO evaluation and various NRC assessments the results of which were used in determining readiness for restart. The team obtained permission to restart despite vigorous efforts by anti-nuclear activists and the State government to keep the plant shut down. Successfully completed a methodical power ascension program and returned the plant to full power. Established a high level of confidence with the nuclear regulators. Developed and implemented policies and programs to ensure long term excellence. After completion of this recovery in late 1990, PILGRIM continued to set plant records for low man-REM dosage, high capacity factors, short outages, and SALP and INPO ratings
Member EPRI Nuclear Advisory Committee and Subcommittee on Advanced Reactors.

1980 - 1987 Owner / President, ASTA, Inc.
Founded a company to provide high quality services to the nuclear generating industry particularly in the area of INPO related program improvements. Personally participated in various assessments and reviews including preparations for INPO evaluations, Technical Specification surveillance testing program reviews, and operational excellence assessments.

1978 - 1980 General Manager / CEO, Gas-Cooled Reactor Association.
Instrumental in the formation of GCRA, a corporation of 25 U.S. Utilities chartered to coordinate the commercialization of the High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor (HTGR). Elected by the Board of Directors to serve as the first General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of GCRA. In this capacity, was involved in planning and managing advanced high technology R&D programs at vendors' and national laboratories, leading to potential utility commitments of several billions of dollars. Daily interface with DOE senior managers and frequent interface with staff directors and committee members in both Houses of Congress and the OMB.

1977 - 1978 Supervisor Nuclear Operations, San Diego Gas & Electric Company.
Served for six months as Supervisor of Nuclear Operations. Upon cancellation of the Sun Desert Nuclear Generating Station Project, was selected by the founding utilities (SDG&E, PECO, NUSCO, and DELMARVA) to set up GCRA.

1975 - 1977 Assistant Director of Naval Intelligence.
Served on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations as Assistant Director of Naval Intelligence. Was directly responsible for all submarine intelligence collection programs and management of submarine intelligence budget. Daily interface with Congressional staffs, Executive Branch Senior Management, Department Secretaries and their Chief Deputies, and the White House Staff.

1974 - 1975 Deputy Squadron Commander (Training and Readiness).
Responsible for the inspection of nuclear engineering training and operational readiness of eight nuclear attack submarines and one nuclear cable repair ship. Conducted extensive monitor and inspection program. Provided Commanding Officers with a detailed analysis of training, administrative, operational, and material status, with commendations for corrective action. Observed propulsion plant operations and maintenance practices during normal operating conditions, during normal shutdown conditions, during casualty control drills, and during maintenance periods. Provided standardized administrative instructions and procedures where feasible. Major (95%) emphasis was in the nuclear propulsion plant area.

1972 - 1974 Senior Instructor to Submarine Prospective Commanding Officers and Assistant Chief of Staff to Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet for Training and Readiness.
Responsible for training upcoming commanding officers in all aspects of their forthcoming billets including leadership, tactics, personnel management, administration, logistics, and Material management.
Monitored and reported operational readiness for an organization of over 50 ships and ten thousand men, with major emphasis on nuclear plant training, operation, and equipment preventive and corrective maintenance. Conducted at sea inspections and prepared comprehensive readiness reports. Formulated both broad and detailed training plans.

1968 - 1972 Commanding Officer, Nuclear Attack Submarine.
Directed all phases of operation of a nuclear attack submarine with a crew of 120 men. Conducted two lengthy deployments including extended independent operations. Coordinated a six-month overhaul of the submarine. Responsible for major modification to the reactor plant, propulsion, and auxiliary systems, including development of maintenance and test procedures. Directly supervised testing and procedural compliance of the modifications. Directed a re-training program to restore the crew to full operational proficiency capability.

1960 - 1968 Various duties in the nuclear submarine navy including Engineer Officer of a fleet ballistic missile submarine and service as the senior on-site naval officer during construction of a natural circulation land-based nuclear prototype.

04 Jun 2023 Kenneth Highfill, CAPT USN, Ret. passed away

	EDUCATION	Bachelor of Science, U.S. Naval Academy - 1955 U.S. Navy Nuclear Power Training - 1960 Professional Engineer (Nuclear) - California 1977
	EXPERIENCE
	1998 - 2001	Consultant to Nuclear Committee of the Board of Directors, PECO Energy, AMERGEN ASOC, and EXELON NSRB. These groups provide senior oversight for all nuclear plants of the parent corporations. Mr. Highfill inspects each site four times per year, meets with plant personnel, reviews a variety and assessments they and senior line management should undertake.
	1995 - 1998	Outside Member, PECO Energy Nuclear Review Board. Conducts plant inspections and reviews operating, training, maintenance, engineering, outage, and licensing processes to help ensure compliance with Tech Spech, UFSAR and INPO requirements, with view toward ensuring the health and safety of the public.
	1990 - Present	Owner / Chairman, ASTA, Inc. Owns and directs a small business incorporated in the State of California which mainly provides services to electric utilities. Those services include management consulting in the areas of plant organization, operations, maintenance, outage support, material support, engineering, radiation protection, administration, training and technical services for procedure writing, maintenance planning and logistic support. Several important assessments were performed personally for the following clients: an assessment of the Technical Specification Surveillance Program for Turkey Point Nuclear Station; a Staff Organizational Assessment for the South Texas Project as well as assessments in the areas of PORC practices, Operations and Engineering Training, and the Corrective Action processes; a Plant Status Control Assessment for the Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, as well as assistance in Corrective Action Program enhancements; and a detailed review of the Radiological Controls program at CECO's Quad Cities plants. The company was founded in 1980 and has served thirty-five different utilities and government organizations since then.
	1987 - 1990	Vice President Nuclear Operations and Station Director, Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station. Responded to an urgent need for a proven manager with a solid technical background to direct a newly hired senior management team in the recovery from a two-year outage. This recovery included completion of plant modification and repairs, training personnel for plant operation after a prolonged shutdown, development of plant restart and power ascension programs, and obtaining NRC permission for restart. Responsible for all Station activities including plant operations, maintenance, technical support, radiation protection, chemistry, radiological waste, planning, scheduling, outage support, material management, facilities, security, fire protection, and nuclear training. Implemented a more efficient organization, instituted more effective budget controls, executed a realistic recovery schedule, and restored the pride and morale of the plant staff. Successfully prepared for an INPO evaluation and various NRC assessments the results of which were used in determining readiness for restart. The team obtained permission to restart despite vigorous efforts by anti-nuclear activists and the State government to keep the plant shut down. Successfully completed a methodical power ascension program and returned the plant to full power. Established a high level of confidence with the nuclear regulators. Developed and implemented policies and programs to ensure long term excellence. After completion of this recovery in late 1990, PILGRIM continued to set plant records for low man-REM dosage, high capacity factors, short outages, and SALP and INPO ratings Member EPRI Nuclear Advisory Committee and Subcommittee on Advanced Reactors.
	1980 - 1987	Owner / President, ASTA, Inc. Founded a company to provide high quality services to the nuclear generating industry particularly in the area of INPO related program improvements. Personally participated in various assessments and reviews including preparations for INPO evaluations, Technical Specification surveillance testing program reviews, and operational excellence assessments.
	1978 - 1980	General Manager / CEO, Gas-Cooled Reactor Association. Instrumental in the formation of GCRA, a corporation of 25 U.S. Utilities chartered to coordinate the commercialization of the High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor (HTGR). Elected by the Board of Directors to serve as the first General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of GCRA. In this capacity, was involved in planning and managing advanced high technology R&D programs at vendors' and national laboratories, leading to potential utility commitments of several billions of dollars. Daily interface with DOE senior managers and frequent interface with staff directors and committee members in both Houses of Congress and the OMB.
	1977 - 1978	Supervisor Nuclear Operations, San Diego Gas & Electric Company. Served for six months as Supervisor of Nuclear Operations. Upon cancellation of the Sun Desert Nuclear Generating Station Project, was selected by the founding utilities (SDG&E, PECO, NUSCO, and DELMARVA) to set up GCRA.
	1975 - 1977	Assistant Director of Naval Intelligence. Served on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations as Assistant Director of Naval Intelligence. Was directly responsible for all submarine intelligence collection programs and management of submarine intelligence budget. Daily interface with Congressional staffs, Executive Branch Senior Management, Department Secretaries and their Chief Deputies, and the White House Staff.
	1974 - 1975	Deputy Squadron Commander (Training and Readiness). Responsible for the inspection of nuclear engineering training and operational readiness of eight nuclear attack submarines and one nuclear cable repair ship. Conducted extensive monitor and inspection program. Provided Commanding Officers with a detailed analysis of training, administrative, operational, and material status, with commendations for corrective action. Observed propulsion plant operations and maintenance practices during normal operating conditions, during normal shutdown conditions, during casualty control drills, and during maintenance periods. Provided standardized administrative instructions and procedures where feasible. Major (95%) emphasis was in the nuclear propulsion plant area.
	1972 - 1974	Senior Instructor to Submarine Prospective Commanding Officers and Assistant Chief of Staff to Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet for Training and Readiness. Responsible for training upcoming commanding officers in all aspects of their forthcoming billets including leadership, tactics, personnel management, administration, logistics, and Material management. Monitored and reported operational readiness for an organization of over 50 ships and ten thousand men, with major emphasis on nuclear plant training, operation, and equipment preventive and corrective maintenance. Conducted at sea inspections and prepared comprehensive readiness reports. Formulated both broad and detailed training plans.
	1968 - 1972	Commanding Officer, Nuclear Attack Submarine. Directed all phases of operation of a nuclear attack submarine with a crew of 120 men. Conducted two lengthy deployments including extended independent operations. Coordinated a six-month overhaul of the submarine. Responsible for major modification to the reactor plant, propulsion, and auxiliary systems, including development of maintenance and test procedures. Directly supervised testing and procedural compliance of the modifications. Directed a re-training program to restore the crew to full operational proficiency capability.
	1960 - 1968	Various duties in the nuclear submarine navy including Engineer Officer of a fleet ballistic missile submarine and service as the senior on-site naval officer during construction of a natural circulation land-based nuclear prototype.