Syreeta Vaughn is a senior staff member at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), serving as a Nuclear Facility Safety Advisor in the Special Projects group. With more than 19 years of experience in nuclear safety, she is recognized for her expertise in nuclear safety engineering, environmental compliance, and conduct of operations.
In her current role, Syreeta leads transformative initiatives across ORNL’s nuclear safety enterprise. She is spearheading a modernization of the Nuclear Safety Qualification process, developing a comprehensive facility safety training program, and advancing continuous improvement projects — including critical updates to the Unreviewed Safety Question (USQ) process.
Her responsibilities include identifying hazards, analyzing accident scenarios, and implementing documented safety analyses for Department of Energy (DOE) hazard category 1, 2, and 3 nuclear facilities. She provides trusted, high-level guidance to laboratory leadership and technical staff, ensuring both regulatory compliance and operational excellence.
Syreeta holds a Bachelor of Science in Geology from Florida State University (2002) and made history as the first African American woman to earn a Master of Science in Geology from the University of Tennessee (2005). She went on to earn a Master’s in Industrial & Systems Engineering (2013) and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Occupational Safety and Health at West Virginia University, focusing on nuclear safety in mobile facilities.
Earlier in her career, Syreeta participated in ORNL’s Mission Support Leadership Rotation Development Program, gaining broad operational insight while leading high-impact initiatives across six mission support divisions. Her professional highlights include serving as the nuclear safety basis enterprise technical lead for both the Y-12 National Security Complex and the Pantex Plant, managing the Y-12 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) program, and overseeing major American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) deactivation and decommissioning waste management projects.
Beyond her technical leadership, Syreeta is a dedicated community leader and mentor. She serves on the Tickle College of Engineering Board of Advisors and the Earth and Planetary Science Advisory Board. She was appointed to the University of Tennessee Chancellor’s Advisory Board by Governor Bill Haslam, completing her term in 2022. As president of the Knoxville Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., and an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., she champions civic service, education, and philanthropy. Her leadership extends to the Knoxville Area Urban League and the Oak Ridge/Knoxville American Nuclear Society.
Honored as one of Knoxville’s “40 Under 40” (2013), Syreeta delivered a TEDx Knoxville talk, Without Limits (2016), received the UT Alumni Promise Award (2019), and is a 2024 graduate of the prestigious Leadership Knoxville program. She continues to excel as a leader in nuclear safety, community engagement, and mentorship, driving innovation and inclusion across both the nuclear enterprise and the broader community.