Cadets Experience Nuclear Technology Applications

VMI’s mechanical engineering degree program offers a nuclear engineering concentration, which includes specialized courses in nuclear technology. Cadets planning to enter the US Navy’s nuclear power program and cadets considering a career in nuclear technology find this concentration valuable.

In addition to course work, the concentration includes two field trips — a fall trip to Dominion Energy’s North Anna nuclear power station in Louisa County, Virginia, and a spring trip to Framatome, a nuclear industry supplier in Lynchburg, Virginia. Both trips provide enhanced perspective to cadets on the scale, equipment, and operations in the nuclear industry. Further, both Dominion and Framatome maintain strong relationships with VMI, and employ a considerable number of VMI alumni.

The recent trip to Framatome was led by mechanical engineering faculty member Paul Damerell and Maj. Jack Wilkins ‘16. Damerell, a 40-year nuclear industry veteran and retiring VMI Wachtmeister chair, has taught VMI’s Introduction to Nuclear Engineering course for six years. Wilkins will be covering the course going forward.

At the Lynchburg facility, Framatome develops equipment used for specialized maintenance of nuclear power plants, and supports the design of new reactors. Its factory floor includes mock-ups of several nuclear plant components used to test maintenance equipment designs, and train workers. During the recent field trip, cadets first heard a few brief presentations, and then had a walking tour of the shop floor, led by Curtis Van Cleve ’02.

“The size and scope of the facilities is impressive,” Shane Wise ’24 said.

Cadets were fully engaged as they saw the equipment, and asked numerous questions. Further, the tour included a stop at Framatome’s virtual reality (VR) lab, where cadets saw — and tried out — VR tools used to train workers.

“For someone going into the Nuclear Navy and planning on working in the nuclear industry after I get out, it was really interesting to hear about the industry,” Dillon Tidwell ’24 said.

Cadets departed the trip with a fresh perspective.

“The visit to Framatome was eye-opening and gave me confidence that I have chosen a field with longevity and many opportunities,” Justin Chow ’24 said.