2023-2024 Impact Report: Nuclear Engineering Program
The Naval Academy’s Nuclear Engineering program (ENR) takes pride in its ability to prepare future Navy and Marine Corps officers to lead in the operation and maintenance of highly technical engineering systems. Whether in surface ships, submarines or aircraft squadrons, Naval Academy graduates excel in a variety of career assignments both ashore and at sea.
This program is designed so that the knowledge and skills acquired while on the Yard transfer directly to the challenges that officers face in the naval service and civilian life. Thanks to private gifts, the department can enhance these educational experience funds for project materials, conferences, site visits and collaborative opportunities with professional organizations.
The USNA Subcritical Reactor (SCR) was reassembled in a newly renovated area on the lab deck of Rickover after several years in storage. The disassembly was necessary to move the location of the SCR and to replace some of the support materials.
SUMMARY
MAJOR EVENT
NUCLEAR ENGINEERING PROGRAM YOUR
88
IMPACT
midshipmen in the nuclear engineering progam between classes of 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027
8 MIDN class of 2024 nuclear engineering majors will attend postgraduate programs
26
projects, presentations and papers by midshipmen in 2024
NUCLEAR ENGINEERING MAJORS
2024: 25 majors (nine double in mechanical engineering)
2025: 21 majors (two double in mechanical engineering, one double in computer engineering)
2026: 21 majors (four double in mechanical engineering)
2027: 21 majors (four double in mechanical engineering)
AWARDS
Ensign Michael Brandt ’24, USN, was presented the Captain Fredrick A. Edwards Sr., Class of 1932 Prize, awarded annually to the midshipman with the highest grade point average majoring in nuclear engineering.
GRADUATE EDUCATION
Six nuclear engineering majors from the Class of 2024 will be attending Naval Postgraduate School:
Ensign Michael Brandt ’24, USN
Ensign Karl Florida ’24, USN
Ensign Sean Oser ’24, USN
Ensign Hunter Davis ’24, USN
Ensign Thomas Minor ’24, USN
Ensign Brandt Purcell ’24, USN
These students from the Class of 2024 are also Bowman Scholars.
One nuclear engineering major, Ensign Samuel Millett ’24, USN, is attending Virginia Tech as part of Voluntary Graduate Education Program (VGEP) to obtain an M.S. in nuclear engineering.
One nuclear engineering major, Ensign Ryan Hogg ’24, USN, is attending Purdue University as part of The U.S. Navy Purdue Military Research Institute to obtain an M.S. in nuclear engineering.
TRIDENT SCHOLAR PROGRAM
The Trident Scholar Program provides an opportunity for a select group of exceptionally capable midshipmen to engage in independent study and research during their senior year. Naval Academy faculty and other area specialists mentor the Trident Scholars, helping them expand their knowledge and contribute to their fields of study.
One nuclear engineering major, Midshipman Andrezj Korlacki ’25, was selected as a 2025 Trident Scholar (Using Stereolithography for Additive Manufacturing of Organic Plastic Scintillator Radiation Detector with Neutron-Gamma Discrimination).
BOWMAN SCHOLAR PROGRAM
Each year, a small group of Naval Academy midshipmen second class (juniors) who are seeking initial service assignments in the nuclear Navy may be offered the opportunity to compete for appointments as Admiral Frank Bowman Scholars. If selected for nuclear power training and subsequently selected as a Bowman Scholar, the scholar will participate in a tailored research internship during one of the summer training blocks preceding first-class year and will participate in a special research-based learning opportunity during their last year as a midshipman. During the first year of commissioned service after graduation from the Academy, Bowman Scholars will likely be offered immediate one-year graduate education experiences at the Naval Postgraduate School resulting in a master’s degree in a technical discipline. Thus, the program has four components: a research project, summer internship, graduate education and early selection in the nuclear Navy.
Three nuclear engineering majors from the Class of 2025 were selected as upcoming Bowman Scholars:
BEHRENS FAMILY SCHOLARS
Each selected scholar must provide a development plan to include project-based learning elements such as senior capstone projects and other research projects, internship opportunities and plans, attendance at industry conferences, such as the annual American Nuclear Society Student Conference, and visit plans to nuclear power plants and Navy-relevant laboratories and facilities.
Two midshipmen were selected to become Behrens Scholars:
Midshipman William Schleper ’25
Midshipman Margo Cicero ’26
Class of 2024 Behrens Scholars included:
Ensign Michael Brandt ’24, USN
Ensign Thomas Minor ’24, USN
AMERICAN NUCLEAR SOCIETY
Fall 2023 and spring 2024 American Nuclear Society (ANS) chapter dinner meetings were afforded to midshipmen thanks to philanthropic support of nuclear engineering. Roughly 100 midshipmen attended each of these meetings at Buddy’s Restaurant in downtown Annapolis. The fall speaker was Tabitha Dodson, program manager for DARPA’s Project DRACO (nuclear powered rocket). The spring speaker was Justin G. Peacock, MD, Ph.D., LtCol, USAF, MC, nuclear radiologist, department head of Military Medical Operations (MMO), Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI), who spoke on some of the latest advances in nuclear medicine.
NSERC RESEARCH CUP
On 23 April, the Nuclear Science and Engineering Research Center (NSERC) from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) hosted the third annual NSERC Research Cup at the Pentagon. Two teams each from the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Military Academy and U.S. Naval Academy presented DTRA-sponsored Capstone Engineering Design and Independent Research projects to leaders and program managers from DTRA. The Naval Academy presented projects titled “Characterizing Neutron Background Radiation Within Tunnels” (ENS Thomas Minor ’24, USN, Bowman Project advised by Prof. John Burkhardt), and “Nuclear Weapons Effects on a Carrier Strike Group” (Wargaming Capstone Team advised by LCDR John Joyce). Ensign Minor’s Bowman Project won the first-place prize for Best Presentation, and the Wargaming Team of ENS Michael Brandt ’24, USN, ENS Hunter Davis ’24, USN, ENS Caleb Hong ’24, USN, ENS Elizabeth Hoover ’24, USN, and ENS Minor earned the second place award. All midshipmen received a specially-designed coin from Mr. Marc Franciszkowicz, director of the Nuclear Technologies Research and Development Division at DTRA. After the presentations, the midshipmen, cadets and faculty from the service academies participated in a two-hour tour of the Pentagon.
INTERNSHIPS SUMMER 2024
A large percentage of nuclear engineering majors will attend one or more internships during their academic career.
In summer 2024, six midshipmen went on internships funded by nuclear engineering philanthropy:
Three midshipmen received internship experience with the Nuclear and Extreme Environment Measurement Group at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN, investigating shielding options for a lunar reactor.
One midshipman received internship experience at Dept of Energy (DoE)—Mission Support and Test Services (MSTS) at the Remote Sensing Laboratory of the Nevada National Security Site, Las Vegas, NV, focusing on nuclear instruments and detection.
Two midshipmen received internship experience with the Reactor Operator Training Program at Armed Forces Radiological Research Institute (AFRRI), Bethesda, MD
OTHER NUCLEAR RELATED INTERNSHIPS AVAILABLE/ATTENDED:
High Performance Computing Modernization Program (HPCMP) and Navy Defense Supercomputing Research Center (DSRC), Stennis Space Center, MS
Flow phenomena and simulations
Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), Monterey, CA
Nuclear-focused studies via a variety of projects
Naval Surface Warfare Center, Weapon Effects and Analysis Division, Indian Head, MD
Collateral concerns for nuclear weapon effects
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL–DOE), Livermore, CA
Multiple projects (MNE-sponsored)
Sandia National Laboratory (SNL–DOE), Albuquerque, NM, or Livermore, CA
Multiple projects (MNE-sponsored)
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL–DOE), Los Alamos, NM
Multiple projects (MNE-sponsored)
Bettis—Naval Nuclear Power Research, Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory, Pittsburgh, PA
Advanced nuclear propulsion technology, data analytics, simulations
RESEARCH PROJECTS
(Nuclear Engineering Majors and Nuclear Related Projects, Midshipmen in bold* font)
JOURNAL ARTICLES
Thomas R. Minor*, Douglas VanDerwerken, Marshall Millett, John Burkhardt, Joseph Latta and Mark M. Murray, “Increased Probability of Detection of Neutron Sources in Low-Background Transportation Tunnels” IEEE access, In preparation
E. Getto, L.C. Schoffstall, Sidney Hall-Smith*, B. Baker, J. Slager, P.J. Joyce and D.P. Durkin, “Effect of Gamma Radiation on Selective Laser Sintered Nylon-12,” Journal of Materials Engineering and Processing, (2023).
CONFERENCE PUBLICATIONS
W.J. Marshall, M. T. Brandt*, L.M. Mulig, et al, “Conducting MUSiC Modeling Studies,” American Nuclear Society Annual Conference, Las Vegas, NV, 16-19 June 2024.
T. Minor*, J. Burkhardt, J. Latta, M. Millett and M. Murray, “Characterizing Neutron Background Radiation within Traffic Tunnels,” Hardened Electronics and Radiation Technology Conference, Huntsville, AL, 15-19 April 2024.
H. Davis*, H. ElBidweihy, M. Millett, M. Porter, “Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Neutron Irradiation on AlGaN High Electron Mobility Transistors,” Hardened Electronics and Radiation Technology Conference, Huntsville, AL, 15-19 April 2024.
Sean O’Dowd* and Steve McHale, “MCNP6.2-Computed Dose Conversion Coefficients in ICRP 145 Mesh-Type Phantoms from Publicly-Released Simulated Nuclear Weapon Spectra,” at the ANS Winter Meeting, Washington, DC, November 2023. The paper was subsequently published in the Transactions of the American Nuclear Society
E. Getto, M. Swenson and S. Stokes*, “Effect of Laser Welding on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties in Ion-Irradiated MA956,” Materials in Nuclear Energy Systems (MiNES) 2023, New Orleans, LA, December 2023.
ANS STUDENT CONFERENCE
USNA sent a delegation of 13 midshipmen and two faculty members to the 2024 American Nuclear Society (ANS) Student Conference held at Penn State University, in April. Travel and conference fees for all participants was funded by nuclear engineering philanthropy.
Five midshipmen presented independent research projects, while four midshipmen presented their capstone design project.
Ensign Thomas Minor ’24, USN, won Best Lightning Presentation at the conference.
Ensign Michael Brandt ’24, USN
Analysis of Metal Hydroxides as Coolants/Moderators for Small Modular Reactors, podium talk
Ensign Thomas Minor ’24, USN
Characterizing Neutron Background Radiation Within Traffic Tunnels, podium talk
Ensign Ashish Venumuddula ’24, USN, Ensign Josh Dickson ’24, USN, and Ensign Sam Millett ’24, USN (Capstone Team)
Dynamic Spent Fuel Pool Concept, podium talk
Ensign Hunter Davis ’24, USN
Molecular Dynamics Study of Neutron Irradiation on AlGaN High Electron Mobility Transistors, poster
Midshipman Andrezj Korlacki ’25
Additive Manufacturing and Characterization of Scintillating Radiation Detectors, poster
OTHER STUDENT RESEARCH PROJECTS
(some information repeated from above)
Title of Project: A Novel Analysis of Metal Hydroxides as Coolants/Moderators in Small Modular Reactors
Researcher: Ensign Michael Brandt ’24, USN
Abstract: It is desirable to create a small modular reactor with performance metrics comparable to or better than contemporary reactor designs. An analysis of reactor physics calculations were done to confirm the use of metal hydroxides for use in a potential DoD reactor design. In this research OpenMC was used to validate and extend reactor physics calculations reported in the literature for core concepts utilizing lithium and sodium hydroxide coolants and moderators. Ensign Brandt extended the analysis by creating a full core model with OpenMC. Ensign Brandt presented a summary of his work as part of the Reactor Physics technical track at the 2024 ANS Student Conference in State College, PA.
Title of Project: Pebble Bed Microreactor Proliferation Resistance Analysis
Researcher: Ensign Brandt Purcell ’24, USN
Abstract: DoD Project Pele seeks to develop a portable nuclear microreactor which can be used to functionally replace diesel generators powering forward-operating ground forces. The project intends to produce a High-Temperature Graphite Reactor (HTGR), a design which uses Tristructural Isotropic (TRISO) fuel. This research performed a quantitative analysis on the attractiveness of spent fuel from Project Pele HTGR reactors to non-state actors who intend to obtain material for a nuclear explosive device. Ensign Purcell used OpenMC to create a full-core model of a notional HTGR suited to Project Pele’s needs, conduct a depletion analysis to determine fuel material composition after a notional core lifetime and evaluated the weight of irradiated fuel needed to obtain sufficient material for a nuclear weapon, an estimate of the radiation dose rate from the fuel and the rate of decay heat generation from the fuel. Ensign Purcell presented his work in a Lightning Talk at the 2024 ANS Student Conference in State College, PA.
Title of Project: An Analysis of Various Uranium-Thorium Fuel Mixtures for Use in Microreactors with a Focus on Non-Proliferation Considerations
Researcher: Ensign Karl Florida ’24, USN
Abstract: As new nuclear energy concepts are developed, factors beyond just power output and efficiency must be considered, especially when it comes to non-proliferation considerations. The goal of this research was to consider four quantitative factors for limiting proliferation risk: bare critical mass, heat content, net weight and dose rate for various Uranium-Thorium oxide (TOX) mixture fuel concepts for potential use in microreactors.
Nuclear Related Capstone Projects:
1. DRACO NTR Poison Design and Removal: Ensign Skyler Sundvall ’24, USN (nuclear engineering), Ensign Sean Doherty ’24, USN (nuclear engineering), and Ensign Ethan Schneider ’24, USN (aerospace engineering {astronautics}).
Design a poison system for an NTR and removal system once in space. The goal of this project is to develop a poison for the DRACO project that is loaded into the nuclear reactor during assembly, keeps the reactor subcritical until reaching orbit and can be removed from the reactor without poison wires.
2. DRACO NTR Radiation Heat Map and Shielding: Ensign Dennis Budasz ’24, USN (nuclear engineering), Ensign Karl Florida ’24, USN (nuclear engineering), Ensign Nicholas Gobich ’24, USN (nuclear engineering), and Ensign Colleen Harmon ’24, USN (nuclear engineering).
Generate a radiation heat map and shielding recommendation for an NTR. Though the efficiency of an NTR is promising (upwards of three times that of its chemical counterpart), it too has inherent shortcomings. Chief among them is the radioactive shielding needed to protect the crew and instrumentation onboard from the engine’s core. The shielding must provide the astronauts with a safe environment to live and work, it must be relatively lightweight, it must fit dimensional constraints, it must be properly located and it must be manufacturable.
3. Nuclear Weapons and Wargaming: Ensign Michael Brandt ’24, USN (nuclear engineering), Ensign Hunter Davis ’24, USN (nuclear engineering), Ensign Caleb Hong ’24, USN (nuclear engineering), Ensign Thomas Minor ’24, USN (nuclear engineering), and Ensign Elizabeth Hoover ’24, USN (nuclear engineering).
Conduct an analysis of NuDet on a CSG and their combat effectiveness. The final product is an interactive tool where the user can place ships (destroyers, aircraft carriers, cruisers and supply ships) and a detonation on a map and run calculations based on the unique scenario. Our tool is unique in that it performs calculations almost instantaneously and that it calculates underwater weapon effects.
4. Reactor Core Carousel (Spent Fuel Pool Project): Ensign Joshua Dickson ’24, USN (nuclear engineering), Ensign Samuel Millett ’24, USN (nuclear engineering), Ensign Charles Turner ’24, USN (nuclear engineering), and Ensign Ashish Venumuddula ’24, USN (nuclear engineering).
Design a system that can provide in-core movement of fuel assemblies to minimize refueling overhauls. A carousel design was developed to decrease the amount of time required to manipulate spent fuel assemblies.
