Nuclear Regulatory Commission officials in King of Prussia, Pa., have selected Patrick Finney as the new Senior Resident Inspector at the Susquehanna nuclear power plant, in Salem Township (Luzerne County), Pa.

Finney joined the NRC in 2004 as a Reactor Inspector in the Division of Reactor Safety in the Region I Office in King of Prussia, Pa. In that role, he took part in various team inspections.

He was assigned to Susquehanna as the Resident Inspector in the fall of 2007. Shortly thereafter, he was called up by the Navy Reserve and served a one-year tour of duty in Afghanistan as Chief Engineer constructing forward operating bases.

Before joining the NRC, Finney worked as both a design and system engineer at the Peach Bottom nuclear power plant in Delta (York County), Pa. Prior to that, he served for seven years in the Navy's nuclear submarine force. He continues to serve in the Navy Reserve. Finney holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Villanova University, as well as a master's degree in engineering management from Old Dominion University and a master's degree in fire protection engineering from the University of Maryland.

"Patrick Finney has the training and commitment to safety that will help the NRC carry out its mission of protecting people and the environment, and ensure the safe operation of the Susquehanna nuclear plant," NRC Region I Administrator Samuel J. Collins said.

Each U.S. commercial nuclear power plant has at least two NRC Resident Inspectors. They serve as the agency's eyes and ears at the facility, conducting inspections, monitoring major work projects and interacting with plant workers and the public. Resident Inspectors can be assigned to any one site for up to seven years.

The Susquehanna Resident Inspectors can be reached at (570) 542-2134.