Stephen G. Burns

The Honorable Stephen G. Burns was sworn in as a Commissioner of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission November 5, 2014, to a term ending June 30, 2019.  President Obama designated Mr. Burns as the 16^th Chairman of the NRC effective January 1, 2015.

Chairman Burns has had a distinguished career within the NRC and internationally.  Immediately prior to rejoining the NRC, Chairman Burns was the Head of Legal Affairs of the Nuclear Energy Agency of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris from 2012 to 2014. 

Prior to assuming his post at the NEA, Chairman Burns was a career employee at the NRC from 1978 to 2012.  Chairman Burns served in a variety of challenging roles during his 33 year NRC career, including being appointed as the NRC’s General Counsel from May 2009 until April 2012, and as the Deputy General Counsel from 1998.  Also of note, Chairman Burns was the Executive Assistant to former NRC Chairman Kenneth M. Carr, and the Director of the Office of Commission Appellate Adjudication. Chairman Burns received the NRC’s Distinguished Service Award in 2001 and the Presidential Meritorious Executive Rank Award in 1998 and 2008.

Chairman Burns received his J.D. degree with honors in 1978 from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and his B.A. degree, magna cum laude, in 1975 from Colgate University in Hamilton, New York.