Systems Engineer at Luminant Power
Former Navy nuclear engineer Rob Daniels finds a new career with Luminant Power.
by Warren Duffie

In Rob Daniels’ opinion, this is a great time to be a nuclear engineer. The nuclear power industry appears to be on the verge of a renaissance. Less coal plants are being built, energy companies are searching for new sources of power, and high gas and oil prices have led corporations and consumers to rethink nuclear power’s benefits.

And while these trends have rocked traditional segments of the energy industry, they have also created golden opportunities for anyone who has worked with nuclear energy.

“I compare it to what’s going on in the federal workforce,” said Daniels, a Navy officer who spent much of his career on nuclear submarines. “People are getting older, and there’s a shortage of new workers to replace them. Nuclear power had such a bad reputation for so long that no one wanted to be a nuclear engineer. Now all of the engineers are retiring and the industry needs new blood. For example, I know my company is looking to hire several over the next few years.”

Powering Two Million Homes in Texas
Daniels, 34, is a Systems Engineer with Texas-based Luminant Power. He works at the Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant in Glen Rose, Texas, which is located 80 miles southwest of Dallas, and provides electricity to two million households.

An employee since March 2007, Daniels works with several of the plant’s operating systems – including heating and ventilation, air conditioning, and lightning protection and grounding. The pulse of his job involves repairing broken parts, troubleshooting, and helping determine whether it’s better to repair or replace a system.

“This plant was built in the 1970s, so we have parts that are 25 years old,” said the former lieutenant commander. “We even still have analog systems. They work fine, but it’s hard to find parts sometimes. So, in some cases, replacement is the only option.”

Daniels works from 0700 to 1700, Monday through Thursday. He spends his shifts in meetings, prioritizing his short- and long-term projects, and attends training seminars for qualification in more plant operating systems.

“A lot of what I do now is similar to being a submarine engineer in the Navy,” he said. “Tracking systems, maintenance and repair, etc.” However, Luminant provides safe power while working toward making a profit. In the Navy, the financial costs didn’t matter as much as getting the job done and getting the sub back out to sea.

“I will admit,” he continued, “that it’s nice to not have to go out for 18 months at a time. I like being able to spend more time with my family.”

One of America’s Premier Power Companies
Luminant Power is part of Luminant, a subsidiary of Energy Future Holdings. Luminant Power has gas, nuclear, and lignite-coal-fueled plants. Its sister company, Luminant Energy, purchases wind-generated, renewable energy and is the largest purchaser of wind generation in Texas and the fifth-largest contractor for wind power in the United States.

Comanche Peak is Luminant’s sole nuclear power plant and has an operating capacity of 2,300 megawatts. It also boasts a welcome center showcasing videos and other multimedia about nuclear power.

From Texas to the Open Sea
Daniels, a Texas native, graduated in 1996 from the U.S. Naval Academy, with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. He then attended nuclear power training in Orlando, Fla., before heading to “prototype” training in scenic Ballston Spa, N.Y.

During his 10-year career, Daniels served on USS San Juan; worked for the Director of Naval Nuclear Propulsion at Washington Navy Yard, D.C.; and led Sailors on NR-1, the Navy’s smallest and only research nuclear submarine.

Although a fascinating and challenging adventure, submarine life is hard. The hardy men and women serving on these vessels endure long periods away from home and family. By 2006, the strain was starting to eat at Daniels.

“I had three children and wanted to be a father to them,” he said. “Also, I wanted to help my wife focus more on her career. So I decided to leave the Navy.”

Wife Helps Sailor Find a Civilian Job
Aside from taking transition classes, Daniels networked with friends and contacts in the service academy community and attended various military transition conferences. Despite this focused effort, his first civilian job resulted from a suggestion from his wife.

After Daniels’ October 2006 separation, he and his family moved to the Dallas area.

A few months later, he received a call from a Luminant recruiter. Daniels was a nuclear engineer again.

“However, the potential for advancement is so much better in the private sector,” he continued. “Luminant really values veterans since we have very useful skills sets. In my plant alone, there are a lot of vets from all branches of the service working here.”