Director: Eugene Dacus
Associate Director for Congressional Affairs: David Decker
Senior Congressional/External Affairs Officer: Darrell Adams
The Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA) is a Commission Staff Office, which reports directly to the Office of the Chairman. In that capacity, OCA is responsible for ensuring that the NRC meets its statutory responsibility to keep the appropriate Congressional oversight committees fully and currently informed about the NRC's activities. For additional detail, see the following topics on this page:
Functional Responsibilities
The primary responsibility of OCA is to provide advice and assistance to the Chairman, the Commission, and NRC staff on Congressional matters; NRC relations with Congress; and views of Congress toward NRC policies, plans, and activities. OCA also maintains ongoing communication with Congressional committees and members of Congress on matters of interest to the NRC. In addition, as the primary point-of-contact for all communications with Congress, OCA reviews and concurs on all outgoing correspondence to members of Congress. The OCA staff also coordinates internal NRC activities with Congress (such as briefings and notifications); plans and develops the NRC's legislative program to implement Commission policy objectives; and monitors legislative proposals, bills, and hearings.
Within the OCA organizational structure, the NRC Protocol Office extends hospitality to Members of Congress, distinguished visitors, and other dignitaries. In that way, the office serves as liaison between dignitaries and the Commission with respect to official visits and events.
Finally, OCA includes the NRC's Federal and External Affairs program. Through that program, OCA serves as an initial point-of-contact for Commission interactions with other Federal agencies and external organizations, including those that represent public interest groups, non-governmental organizations, and the nuclear industry. For Federal intergovernmental and external matters concerning the Commission, please contact oca_web@nrc.gov.
Organizational Structure and Staffing
The following table summarizes OCA's organizational structure and staffing responsibilities.
| Contact |
Title/Responsibilities |
| Eugene Dacus |
Director |
| David Decker |
Associate Director for Congressional Affairs
Primary contact for budget/appropriations and legislative proposals.
|
| Kimberly Sargent |
Director of Protocol
Extends hospitality to Members of Congress, distinguished visitors, and other dignitaries. Also is the liaison between dignitaries and the Commission with respect to official visits and events.
|
| Vacant |
Senior Congressional/External Affairs Officer
Lead contact for NRC's federal and external affairs. Primary contact for Congressional committee hearings and the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository.
|
| Jenny Weil |
Senior Congressional Affairs Officer
Primary contact for decommissioning and decontamination, materials, nuclear medicine, waste, fuel cycle facilities, and Region I reactor issues.
|
| Lynnea Wilkins |
Congressional Affairs Officer
Primary contact for cyber and physical security, emergency preparedness, international issues, and Region II reactor issues.
|
| Carolyn Wolf |
Congressional Affairs Officer
Primary contact for new and advanced reactor licensing, agency contracts, educational grant programs, environmental reviews, and Region III issues.
|
| Angel Moreno |
Congressional Affairs Officer
Primary contact for operating reactor licensing and inspection programs (including research and test reactors), interim consolidated storage facility applications, safety culture, and Region IV reactor issues.
|
| Marcia Pringle |
Protocol Specialist
Assists the Director of Protocol with preparations for events, meetings, and visits of dignitaries hosted by the Commission.
|
| Jeannette Quesenberry |
Congressional Affairs Specialist
Primary responsibility for monitoring relevant stakeholder interest in nuclear energy and congressional hearing preparation.
|
| Nicole Riddick |
Administrative Assistant
Primary assistant to the Director, provides staff support, office management, hearings coordination and project planning.
|
Page Last Reviewed/Updated Wednesday, February 02, 2022