Yissel Castanon serves as the Director of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Employee Concerns Program (ECP) within the Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security (EHSS). Ms. Castanon is dedicated to fostering a robust safety culture, transparency, and integrity to achieve operational excellence. Her leadership ensures that all DOE federal, contractor, and subcontractor employees have an independent and confidential avenue to raise critical concerns, particularly those impacting nuclear safety. The ECP addresses issues including environmental stewardship, general health, security, quality, and management practices, all without fear of reprisal, thereby strengthening the overall safety culture and supporting the DOE's nuclear mission.
In her role, Ms. Castanon leads the ECP's strategic direction and implementation. She exercises a high level of judgment in interpreting and coordinating the implementation of Departmental policy, DOE Orders, and Federal requirements. She advises senior DOE leadership on compliance, analyzes data for systemic trends, oversees initial complaints of contractor employee whistleblower protections, and develops training programs for ECP Managers. Recognized for her expertise in program planning and evaluation, she reviews and makes recommendations on proposed policy and regulations that can impact the ECP’s mission or operations. Her objective is to ensure concerns are effectively addressed, contributing to a secure, safe, and productive workplace.
Complementing this strategic leadership experience, Ms. Castanon brings over 20 years of military service, during which she led complex, multi-stakeholder programs in high-risk operational environments where disciplined planning, governance, and execution were essential to success. In senior enlisted leadership roles, including shipboard flight deck operations and enterprise-level wellness initiatives, she was responsible for translating strategic objectives into executable plans, managing risk, allocating resources, and ensuring compliance with established standards. These roles required continuous performance monitoring, cross-functional coordination, and rapid decision-making under pressure. Together, these experiences shaped a leadership philosophy centered on delivering sustainable program outcomes by balancing operational excellence, safety, and workforce well-being.
Ms. Castanon’s leadership and managerial acumen have been consistently acknowledged through awards including a Presidential Meritorious Service Medal, two Secretary of Navy Commendation Medals, and four Naval and Marine Corps Achievement Medals.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Maryland, providing a strong academic foundation for her work in organizational behavior, employee welfare, and the dynamics of safety culture.