CARLSBAD, N.M. (AP) - A longtime U.S. Energy Department official has been appointed to lead the agency’s office in New Mexico that oversees the federal government’s only underground repository for nuclear waste.
The Carlsbad Current-Argus reports that Gregory Sosson took over as acting manager in December. He replaces Kirk Lachman, who temporarily filled the role and has since returned to his previous duties as deputy manager.
Before coming to Carlsbad, Sosson served in numerous high-level positions at the DOE’s Office of Environmental Management. That included stints as the chief of nuclear safety, chief security officer and associate deputy assistant secretary for oversight of field operations.
During his tenure, Sosson has worked closely on operations at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, including its restart in 2017 following a radiation release that was caused by an inappropriately packed container of waste from Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Before working for the federal government, Sosson spent nearly three decades in the commercial nuclear industry. He also was an infantry officer in the Army Reserve and National Guard.
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