Amentum has officially opened its Global Nuclear headquarters in Oak Ridge, a new hub that houses the company's Nuclear Center of Excellence and employs more than 150 subject-matter experts working on engineering, technology solutions and advanced energy capabilities. The opening cements Oak Ridge's status as a command center for the Chantilly, Virginia-based contractor's international nuclear operations, at a moment when East Tennessee's nuclear sector is expanding fast.
According to WashingtonExec, Amentum hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening, with CEO John Heller, U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann and local elected leaders and school officials on hand. Mark Whitney, president of Amentum's energy and environment division, also attended and called the opening a monumental step forward for the company and the broader nuclear industry, according to the Nashville Post. Whitney added that the facility strengthens local partnerships, increases energy capacity and enables next-generation nuclear innovation, per the same report.
Amentum already serves as the lead partner in the U.S. Department of Energy's United Cleanup Oak Ridge program, an environmental management contract, and company officials toured UCOR project sites during their visit, according to UCOR. The firm undertakes major contracts with the U.S. government across technology, engineering, health care and national security and defense work, the Nashville Post reports.
A Scholarship Pipeline Tied to the New Hub
Alongside the headquarters launch, Amentum announced the Amentum Nuclear Scholars Program, a scholarship pipeline connecting Roane State Community College with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The program is designed to support Roane State students who continue their education at UT, and the first student cohort is scheduled to launch in late 2026, per WashingtonExec.
WashingtonExec and UCOR describe a five-year, $500,000 commitment to the University of Tennessee and Roane State for the same program. UCOR adds that combined student support for the two schools — including other company-led STEM sponsorships and donations — exceeds $1 million when all programs are counted.
Matthew Mench, dean of UT's Tickle College of Engineering, said the partnership prepares students with the educational foundation to become future nuclear-industry leaders, according to the Nashville Post. Mench also said financial support paired with practical internship experiences will prepare students for advanced roles that benefit the community, the state and the country.
East Tennessee's Nuclear Buildout Keeps Growing
The headquarters opening lands amid a broader nuclear expansion across the Oak Ridge region. Amentum is separately expanding its presence in Oak Ridge with a new facility. Separately, WATE reports that more than 5,000 new permanent jobs tied to the growing industry are expected across the region over the next several years.
Companies including Orano USA, Oklo Inc., TRISO-X and Kairos Power have built or begun building facilities there. Orano's planned Project IKE uranium-enrichment facility is expected to employ about 300 people once operational and require between 800 and 1,000 construction workers during roughly five years of building, with production expected to begin in the early 2030s, per WATE.
Workforce Gaps and a Tightening Housing Market
The growth is colliding with a workforce shortage. Tennessee's nuclear workforce totals approximately 17,000 workers today and is projected to reach a peak of around 21,000 by 2032, according to a workforce assessment from the Oak Ridge Associated Universities. ORAU found that demand for some nuclear-energy occupations — including chemical plant and systems operators, nuclear reactor operators, production and operations supervisors, and power plant operators — already outpaces the state's existing training pipelines, with demand for operationally related roles expected to keep climbing through 2035. The assessment, built on structured interviews with 14 companies across the Tennessee Nuclear Network, recommended investing in training capacity for the occupations identified as most at risk of a shortfall.
ORAU also found that private-sector companies have pledged more than $10 billion to nuclear buildouts in the region. WATE reports that growth is expected to push housing demand beyond Oak Ridge itself and into Anderson, Roane, Knox and other surrounding counties, with one source noting the region is already short on affordable starter homes.
Tennessee has leaned into the sector at the state level as well. Gov. Bill Lee has touted nuclear energy as an opportunity for economic advancement, and the state became the first in the country with a regulatory framework for operating nuclear fusion machines after the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation issued the first commercial nuclear fusion license, according to the Nashville Post.
