BWXT names president, government operations

Rob Smith joins Lynchburg-based nuclear fuel supplier from Lockheed Martin

Published January 11, 2021 by Sydney Lake

Lynchburg-based nuclear fuel supplier BWX Technologies Inc. (BWXT) announced Monday that it has hired Robert F. “Rob” Smith as president of government operations, a newly created position.

Smith most recently served as vice president and general manager for Lockheed Martin’s radar and sensors systems market segment. In his new role, he will oversee BWXT’s U.S.-based nuclear business lines that report through the nuclear operations and nuclear services segment. This includes BWXT’s work with the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Nuclear Security Administration, NASA and other government customers.

“We are extremely pleased to have Rob join our executive management team,” BWXT President and CEO Rex Geveden. “His impressive technical and management credentials and sustained record of success in the aerospace and defense markets demonstrate his value to BWXT as we pursue new avenues of growth and exceptional operational performance.”

Smith will report directly to Geveden. Smith also previously served as vice president of Nantero’s government business unit before it was acquired by Lockheed Martin. He also worked for the National Security Agency.

Smith earned his master’s degree in business administration from Johns Hopkins University and his doctorate in chemical engineering from Auburn University.

BWXT employs approximately 6,600 people across 12 major operating sites in the U.S. and Canada.