The basics: Marzano, ANS member since 2008, is a senior reactor operator at Exelon Generation’s Braidwood nuclear power plant in Braidwood, Ill. As a congressional fellow, he will have the opportunity to work in the office of a member of Congress or for a congressional committee.
“It is an honor and a privilege to be selected for this prestigious fellowship, and I am humbled to join the company of many successful past fellows,” Marzano said. “Nuclear energy will be crucial to decarbonizing the electric, transportation, and industrial sectors as Congress takes concrete steps toward reshaping the nation’s infrastructure. With nearly a decade of experience in operating nuclear power plants, I hope to provide key insights to my Capitol Hill colleagues, while also learning the art of policymaking.
Background: Marzano, who lives in Plainfield, Ill., began his career at Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory in 2012, supporting the U.S. Navy training mission as a reactor operations instructor and nuclear plant engineer. In 2015, he moved to South Carolina Electric & Gas, where he spent two years supporting construction activities and qualifying as a senior reactor operator for the twin AP1000 reactor expansion project at the Summer nuclear power plant.
Since 2017, Marzano has worked for Exelon Generation, supporting digital plant upgrades while obtaining a senior reactor operator license. Marzano holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nuclear engineering from the University of Florida.
“Matt’s experience in reactor operations, particularly in Illinois, where the state legislature has actively worked on crediting nuclear power plants for their carbon-free attributes, will prove crucial as policymakers in Washington, D.C., continue to debate nuclear energy’s role in future energy policies,” said John Starkey, ANS director of public policy. “The ANS Congressional Fellowship program has a rich history of fellows assisting lawmakers in Washington, and I’m excited to see Matt walking the hallways of Capitol Hill in 2022.”
Marzano will participate in the fellowship orientation program sponsored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science in September and will begin his fellowship term on January 2, 2022.
