Name:

Kelly Gatslick

Education/Certifications:

• Nuclear and Mechanical Engineering B.S. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• Senior Reactor Operator License

Employment (Company and Position):

Senior Reactor Operator at Constellation’s Nine Mile Point Clean Energy Center Unit 2

Why did you choose the nuclear field or how did you end up in the nuclear field?

Growing up my mother worked at Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station, which meant hearing the phonetic alphabet at dinner and always answering “That’s correct” instead of “That’s right.” I’ve always known I was going to follow in her footsteps and join the nuclear workforce. It was an easy decision to attend RPI (Go Engineers!) to get my dual degree in nuclear and mechanical engineering, and an even easier decision upon graduation to join Constellation as an Equipment Operator at Nine Mile Point Unit 2.

What do you think is the most important benefit of nuclear science, technology, or energy and why?

Nuclear is and always has been the best “bang for your buck” energy source and I think people are finally starting to realize that. When you partner that with the fact that nuclear power is safe, reliable, clean, and heavily regulated you have a winning combination. Nuclear power has always been special and unique, which tends to attract the best and the brightest to the industry. I’m really excited to see where new nuclear takes us and just what kind of an impact it will have on the world.

Is there something about your job that most people are surprised to hear?

The number one thing that surprises people about being an Operator is the training. When I tell people that to get a license it takes 18 months of devoted studying and then training every five/six weeks for the rest of your time in OPS people are shocked. A lot of people see nuclear operators as doughnut eating, slacking idiots, as that’s what media has portrayed us as. Hearing how well trained and proficient the operators are and how seriously they take training goes a long way to dispel the untrue and unfair stereotypes.

What advice do you have for women in the nuclear field?

My best advice to women in the nuclear field is to lend a hand, lend a voice, and lend an ear. Lend a hand by going out of your way to help other women. Be the kind face in the room someone can rely on and when you’ve climbed the corporate ladder make sure you put out a hand to help the women behind you. Lend a voice by making sure women in your spaces are heard. Women can be talked over and ignored in technical spaces, so when you get a spot at the table make sure you leave a space and include other women who may be overlooked. Lend an ear by being the person that people know they can go to. Women in nuclear face a unique set of challenges that our male counterparts do not. Listen to the women who come to you and always know when to offer advice or when just to allow someone to be heard.

What is your favorite work memory or accomplishment?

There are very few women in nuclear and even less so in Operations. When I started as an Equipment Operator there were less than ten women in the department across two units. There were 5 women alone in my EO class. There were 2 female SROs at Unit 1 and no female ROs. In 2021 two colleagues and I became the first women to become licensed as Senior Reactor Operators at Nine Mile Point Unit 2. In 2025 I became the first and only woman to qualify Shift Manager at Unit 2. Being able to become the woman I didn’t have to look up to when I first started is something I take immense pride in and I hope that I can inspire more women to pursue becoming licensed.