Bio
As Nuclear Fabrication Team Lead for the Research Reactors Division in the Neutron Sciences Directorate at ORNL, Mr. Kilgore is responsible for the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR). This 85MW reactor is the highest flux reactor-based source of neutrons for research in the United States, and it provides one of the highest steady-state neutron fluxes of any research reactor in the world, enabling world-class capabilities for neutron scattering, isotope production, materials irradiation, neutron activation analysis, and nuclear physics.
Mr. Kilgore originally came to ORNL in 2015 to join the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) Systems Engineering group as a Nuclear Fabrication Engineer. He later accepted a position as Lead of the Nuclear Fabrication Team where he oversees all engineering activities related to Fuel & Component fabrication.
Prior to working at ORNL, Mr. Kilgore spent 23 years in engineering and management for a tier one automotive manufacturer. During this time, he oversaw the engineering activities for process design on several new starter and alternator production lines and worked to introduce new manufacturing technologies and streamline operating processes.
In addition to his responsibilities at ORNL, Mr. Kilgore serves as a student mentor within the TN Achieves College Scholarship program. Mr. Kilgore holds a BS and MS from the College of Engineering at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.