Previously he served as the associate director of the Energy Division. In this position, Cannon will coordinate preparation of the institutional plan, facilitate activities of the research and development strategic planning committee and manage the laboratory's discretionary research and development funding program. He will also lead an initiative to enhance employee development opportunities at ORNL and assist the director in other key support roles.
A native of Columbus, Ga., Cannon received a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Tuskegee Institute and a master's and a doctorate in mechanical engineering from California Institute of Technology. He joined ORNL in 1975. His experience at ORNL includes preparing environmental impact statements for various federal actions, most notably energy and related facilities; conducting performance assessments of waste management facilities; and siting hazardous waste facilities. He also managed the integrated analysis and assessment section, which conducts research in the physical and social sciences relevant to the performance of integrated assessments.
Cannon is president of the Oak Ridge Chapter of Sigma Xi and a member of the Fuel Recycle and Waste Management Division, Low Level Waste Technical Operating Committee, American Nuclear Society. He is also author or co-author of more than 50 publications.
ORNL, one of DOE's multiprogram national research and development facilities, is managed by Martin Marietta Energy Systems, which also manages the Oak Ridge K-25 and the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant.