The Founders

We provide energy production professionals who deliver solutions that utilize safe, effective, and efficient strategies.

Both founders qualified as operators in the World's oldest nuclear operator training program

The United States’ Navy was first to operate nuclear reactors for power production purposes. Since the 1950’s, the training program remains essentially the same to produce qualified nuclear operators within 48 weeks of commencing nuclear training. Recently, commercial nuclear power has begun to incorporate many of the long-standing procedures established by Admiral Rickover that have been in constant use by the Navy since the 1950’s.

In the beginning, Hyman G. Rickover created the Naval Reactors organization and the S1W prototype for eventual use in the USS Nautilus. Unlike today, the process to design and build a reactor was done very quickly. In 1947 Rickover recognized the advantages of nuclear power aboard submarines. By 1951 a contract had been awarded for the construction of the USS Nautilus and in January of 1955, its Commanding Officer ordered all lines cast off and signaled the memorable and historic message, “Underway On Nuclear Power.”

Along with the incredible engineering feat of making the first operating reactor for energy production in a compact area that was portable and designed to withstand combat, Rickover created a training program that has remained relatively unchanged until this day.

In the mid 1980’s, the founders of EnerSpex survived the rigorous and unforgiving training program created by Rickover. By the age of 21 both were qualified operators on their first submarine, the USS Alabama (pictured to the right while they were operating the plant during the 100th Trident deterrent Patrol in 1988). In later years, both qualified as Leading Engineering Laboratory Technicians and were responsible for maintaining meticulous operational records for the reactors and all radioactive materials that were created aboard the ship, as well as creating and implementing training programs to ensure all nuclear qualified personnel met the Navy’s uncompromising standards through constant written testing and requalification standards.

William A. Smith

Mr. Smith has over 30 years of nuclear training, operations, performance improvement, work control and management experience to be a key member of management of nuclear and non-nuclear corporations in building highly efficient and safe organizations.

Expert in US Nuclear Regulatory Commission(NRC-USA) and Federal Authority of Nuclear Regulations(FANR-UAE) codes and requirements, Analysis-Design-Development- Implementation and Evaluation(ADDIE) of training programs which comply with the Systematic Approach to Training Process(SAT), procedure writing, maintenance planning and scheduling, field engineering and mentoring.

Prior Experience: Atkins Director, Training Management, North America; Training Manager, ENEC – Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, Abu Dhabi, UAE; Senior Performance Improvement Consultant, WD & Associates, TVA-Browns Ferry, AL; Manager, APS – Palo Verde, Tonopah, AZ; Initial License Training Manager, FPL – St. Lucie Nuclear Power Station, St. Lucie, FL; Initial Licensed Operator Training Supervisor, Exelon – Braidwood Nuclear Station, Braidwood, IL; Training Manager, Westinghouse – Savanah River, Aiken, SC; US Navy – Submarines.

 

 

  • BS, Nuclear Engineering Technology, Thomas Edison

    State University

    Senior Reactor Operator Certification on Westinghouse and Combustion Engineering designed nuclear power plants

    Naval Engineering Watch Supervisor and Leading Engineering Laboratory Technician Qualified on S6G, S8G, S5W Reactor Plants


    Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit

    Naval Nuclear Power School (Orlando, FL)

    Emergency Response Organization (ERO) Director

    Corrective Action Review Board quorum member

    Root Cause Analysis/Apparent Cause Evaluation (RCA/ACE) Team Advisor

    US NRC Column IV Recovery Manager for PVNGS & BFN

    Navy/DOE Master Training Specialist/Information Technologist

    Navy Diver Qualified - PADI Rescue Diver/Instructor

Jorge I. Hernandez, esq.

Mr. Hernandez is an attorney admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court, The Federal Circuit, Court of Federal Claims, US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, US 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, US District Court for the Southern District of California, US District Court for the Southern District of Texas, California Supreme Court and all other California State Courts.

Qualified as a nuclear reactor plant operator aboard US Navy Submarines in 1987 as a chemistry and radiological controls specialist. He continued in the Navy as a Radiological Controls Shift Supervisor, and Leading Engineering Laboratory Technician serving aboard a ballistic missile submarine, a fast attack submarine and a repair tender. In addition to operation and maintenance duties, he was responsible for all training and documentation regarding Rad Waste and Plant Chemistry. Designed and implemented training for all nuclear and non-nuclear trained personnel assigned to repair tender during deployment to Arabian Gulf in early 1990’s (Jebel Ali & Bahrain). Created primary plant resin discharge procedure training for depot-level maintenance not within the scope of ship’s force capabilities.

After leaving the service, Mr. Hernandez earned his real Estate Broker’s License in California and a Bachelor’s Degree in Accountancy and opened real estate and mortgage companies before earning his law degree and becoming an attorney in 2009. As an attorney, he often represents small businesses in contract disputes against the US Government, as well as other businesses that encroach upon his clients’ interests.

  • Juris Doctor, California Western School of Law

    BS, Accountancy

    Radiological Controls Shift Supervisor

    Naval Radiological Controls Monitor School

    Naval Leading Engineering Laboratory Technician Qualified on S6G, S8G, S3G, S7G Reactor Plants

    Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit

    Naval Nuclear Power School (Orlando, FL)

    Reactor Accident Team Leader – Middle East

    Nuclear Support Facility Training Director

    Resin Discharge Training Coordinator

    FAA Instrument-Rated Pilot

    SSI Advanced SCUBA Diver