OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced today the selection of Jay Mullis as the manager of the Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management (OREM). Previously, Mullis served as the OREM acting manager since October 2016, and he has served as the deputy manager since February 2015.  Mullis brings 30 years of federal service to the position.

OREM is responsible for environmental cleanup across the 32,400-acre Oak Ridge Reservation, which includes the East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP), Y-12 National Security Complex (Y-12), and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Specifically, Mullis will oversee environmental cleanup and stewardship, decontamination and decommissioning activities, waste processing and management, surveillance and maintenance programs, historic preservation efforts, and procurement and contract functions.

“I know Jay’s experience and deep knowledge of the site, combined with his goal-focused leadership, will enable Oak Ridge to continue its impressive progress as it works to complete cleanup at ETTP and begins new phases of cleanup at Y-12 and ORNL,” said EM’s Acting Assistant Secretary Jim Owendoff. 

Jay spent his first nine years of federal service working in the Naval Nuclear Propulsion program at the Charleston Naval Shipyard where he was qualified as a nuclear engineer. The balance of his federal service has been with DOE working in various assignments related to environmental restoration, decontamination and decommissioning, and waste management activities.  He was also a fully certified facility representative for DOE.

During his tenure as OREM deputy manager, Mullis helped direct and support the office's division directors and federal project directors to ensure federal oversight and cleanup progress continued across the Oak Ridge Reservation.  Previously, he also served as the director of the Engineering, Safety and Quality Division in Oak Ridge’s Environmental Management program.

“I’m honored and excited to lead Oak Ridge’s cleanup program as we continue enhancing and transforming the region,” said Mullis. “Our mission is vital to the future of this community, and it is a privilege to continue working with our outstanding stakeholders and partners as well as our incredibly skilled and dedicated workforce.”

Jay holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina, and he is a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of South Carolina.