Mike Smith

Mr. Michael (Mike) Smith worked at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) as an intern, radiological nuclear engineer and project manager supporting nuclear research activities for defense, civilian, and industry, initiatives since 2012. His primary research areas were in support of nuclear space power and propulsion systems, natural space radiation, and advanced reactor shielding and design. He has provided direct analytical support for multiple spaceflight missions including Mars Science Laboratory, Mars 2020, Dragonfly, and Voyager I, along with supporting terrestrial nuclear design efforts for industry, DOE, and DOD.

Mr. Smith is currently on assignment to the Office of the Undersecretary of War (OUSW), Energy Resilience & Optimization (ER&O), Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund (OECIF) where he serves as the Nuclear Portfolio lead overseeing multiple nuclear technology innovation projects including fission and radioisotope power systems across maritime, terrestrial, and space domains.

Mr. Smith holds a Bachelors and a Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Tennessee and in his spare time enjoys converting students and early career professionals into unsuspecting nuclear enthusiasts.