As she finishes the final year of her predecessor's unfinished term, Allison Macfarlane has been nominated to serve an additional five years as chairwoman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
The Obama administration announced the appointment on Thursday. The Senate confirmed her original appointment in comparatively short order, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said in a release that he looked forward to a swift confirmation for a full term.
Macfarlane earned the attention of the nuclear power industry as a member of the Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future, although her background and PhD are in geology. Prior to her NRC post, she was an associate professor at George Mason University, and she authored a 2006 book that examined technical challenges faced by the Yucca Mountain geologic repository project in Nevada.
She was previously appointed to replace former NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko, who resigned last May amid accusations of abusive behavior that he denies. Macfarlane's current term will end June 30.