PNNL

Joel Tingey is recognized as one of the nation's foremost experts in characterizing the world's plutonium production, processes, and technologies. With nearly 40 years of experience in plutonium processing, Tingey is revered among colleagues for his expertise in nuclear fuel cycle chemistry. Early in his career, he helped resolve critical safety issues and developed strategies for obtaining and characterizing wastes from Hanford tanks—one of the site’s most enduring and hazardous challenges. His contributions brought physical parameters, specifically rheology, to a domain previously limited to chemical and radiological properties. He has influenced the creation of multiple American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International standards in spent fuel and high-level waste. Tingey brings more than 25 years of experience in working on hot cells, with training, mentoring, and engineered solution based experience in both local and international settings. His hot cell expertise has been invaluable to the development of the International Atomic Energy Agency staff. His technical leadership has been key in building Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s (PNNL) reputation as a plutonium processing laboratory. He is a member of the Department of Energy’s Plutonium Verification and Mobile Plutonium Facility. Tingey first worked at PNNL as an undergraduate and joined the lab as a staff member in 1989.

• PhD in Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University
• BS in Chemistry, Brigham Young University.

• The Secretary of Energy’s Achievement Award, Emerging Threats Program Team member (2018).