Urenco Appoints Company Veterans to Lead Urenco USA Operations and Expansion
23 July 2026
EUNICE, N.M. – Urenco USA announced today the appointment of new site leadership to manage the ongoing operations and the future expansion of the company’s National Enrichment Facility, the only commercial-scale uranium enrichment plant in in the United States.
Jody Blackshear, Managing Director
Jody Blackshear has been appointed Managing Director of Urenco USA effective October 1, 2026. He will lead current plant operations and ensure the continued successful production of enriched uranium for the company’s utility and reactor developer customers. He succeeds John Kirkpatrick, who announced his retirement this spring. Blackshear is currently the Enrichment Director at Urenco’s uranium enrichment facility in the United Kingdom. He began his Urenco career at the New Mexico facility in 2010.
“Jody’s deep understanding of the business, his proven leadership capabilities, and his commitment to Urenco's values led to his selection,” said Bridget Sparrow, Urenco’s chief operating officer. “With his prior experience at the facility and his work in the UK, he will provide valuable knowledge and insights for the continued improvement of our U.S. operations and will be well prepared to lead the site through its upcoming growth and development.”
Blackshear started at the Urenco USA facility before the first centrifuge cascade began operation and went on to hold senior leadership roles in Operations, Tech Services and Procurement. As the Director of Enrichment at Urenco UK since 2023, he has led the establishment of a new business unit under a site reorganization and has overseen first-of-a-kind major refurbishment activities. Globally for Urenco, he has served as Chief of Staff to the CTO, Global Process Owner for Operations, and Director of Group Operations Programs.
Prior to Urenco, Jody worked in nuclear power operations and training. He is a United States Navy veteran, having served in the U.S. Navy Nuclear Propulsion program. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering Technology from Thomas Edison State University and a Master of Business Administration from Texas Tech University.
Melissa Forest, Investment Program Director
Melissa Forest has been appointed to the newly created position of Investment Program Director for Urenco USA to lead the successful delivery of the company’s recently announced expansion of the National Enrichment Facility, which will involve the construction of a new enrichment plant building and installation of 2.1 million separative work units (SWU) of new capacity, a nearly 50% increase and one of the most significant investments in the company's history. Forest is currently Strategic Investment Director U.S. and has served in several roles across Urenco at the U.S. and U.K. sites since joining Urenco USA in 2006.
“Melissa has demonstrated extensive experience across Urenco in a variety of complex operational environments, has a proven track record of delivery across a wide variety of projects, and has a strong ability to foster collaboration and build highly motivated teams,” said Dirk Reinelt, Urenco’s chief investment program officer. “This makes her well-placed to lead such a critical program, and we are confident that her leadership will be instrumental in its success and strengthening the U.S. nuclear fuel supply.”
Previously, Forest served as Site Transformation & Site Services Director at Urenco UK, leading a significant sitewide transformation to enable future expansion. She also created and led Urenco’s global Business Development function and served as Head of Operations at Urenco ChemPlants Ltd. Earlier roles spanned transformation leadership, project and procurement management, safeguards, financial control, and strategic planning for greenfield nuclear new builds for Urenco. She began her career at KPMG LLP, specializing in valuation and transaction support, before transitioning into the nuclear industry.
Forest holds a Global Master of Business Administration from the University of Manchester and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of New Mexico. She is both a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).
Retirement of John Kirkpatrick
John Kirkpatrick’s retirement marks the culmination of a career spanning more than four decades in the nuclear industry. Under his leadership, the Urenco USA team has achieved several major milestones, including its current capacity expansion and the successful licensing and startup of the production of LEU+, which allows the plant to enrich uranium up to 10% U-235 to provide advanced fueling options for the country’s existing reactors and the advanced reactors planned for the next decade. He has also been instrumental in overseeing several other projects focused on ensuring the site can continue to provide a reliable domestic supply of enriched uranium fuel for its customers for decades to come.
“Serving in this role has been both a privilege and a meaningful capstone for my career, made especially significant by the opportunity to work in New Mexico alongside a team known for its dedication to safety, teamwork, and excellence,” said Kirkpatrick. “My decision is driven by a personal commitment to support my family, which has become more pressing in recent months.”
“We appreciate all that John has done for Urenco and the site since joining us in 2024,” said Bridget Sparrow, Urenco Chief Operating Officer. “He has contributed significantly to the culture of excellence at the site and has delivered on many key projects important to fueling the future of the nuclear industry while maintaining the safety and reliability we expect of a Urenco facility.”
About Urenco USA
As America’s only commercial-scale producer of enriched uranium, Urenco USA operates the National Enrichment Facility, a strategic part of America’s energy infrastructure and nuclear fuel supply chain that began operations in 2010 and has the capacity to meet approximately one-third of the enrichment needs of U.S. commercial nuclear power plants. The facility employs more than 500 U.S. employees and long-term contractors.
With nearly two decades of experience building and operating uranium enrichment capacity in the United States, Urenco USA is uniquely positioned to support U.S. utilities in meeting growing domestic energy needs and in strengthening U.S. energy security. Since its first product shipment in 2012, the company has delivered every customer order on time and to specification, representing more than 50 million SWU of production.
Urenco USA’s essential role in the domestic nuclear fuel supply chain supports the generation of reliable, secure, and sustainable energy for U.S. consumers and businesses. The company focuses on providing safe, cost-effective, and reliable uranium enrichment services for power generation while working within a framework of high regulatory and safety standards. Urenco USA’s world-class facility in southeastern New Mexico plays a vital role in supporting U.S. energy production, energy security, jobs, and manufacturing. To learn more, visit www.urencousa.com.
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Contact:
Jeremy Derryberry
Director of Communications, Urenco USA
[email protected]
505-975-3844
