ERWIN -- Only hours before a Tuesday evening public meeting hosted by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Nuclear Fuel Services, announced that it was naming a new president, David Amerine.

Then, shortly after 6 p.m., Amerine the new NFS president, addressed a U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission panel and stressed that safety would be his number one priority.

He succeeds David Kudsin, who had been on the job as NFS president only since last year.

No mention was made of Kudsin, either in a NFS news release or during the public meeting.

Amerine told the NRC that he is a veteran of "recoveries" of six other troubled nuclear facilities, including nuclear power plants and U.S. Department of Energy facilities.

"The NFS workplace priorities under my leadership will be safety, quality, schedule, and cost, in that order," said new NFS President Amerine.

He added, "Recovery actions I have led so far are in line with that philosophy. Safety and quality are driven by the principle that we want our workers to return to their families in the condition [in] which they were received and we are committed as professionals to meet and exceed the standards, code, and laws that govern our business."

A press release issued by NFS on Tuesday afternoon said Amerine will be responsible for all NFS operations.

"Mr. Amerine has over 40 years of experience with increasing levels of responsibility in the nuclear industry, grounded by exemplary service in the United States nuclear navy," the NFS news release said. "Mr. Amerine joined Babcock & Wilcox Technical Services Group, Inc. in 2009 as vice president for technical services."

Babcock & Wilcox is the parent company of NFS.

From 2005 until joining the B&W team, Amerine worked for the Parsons Corporation, where he held the position of senior vice president for systems, defense and security, and was responsible for the development and execution of business at the Savannah River Site, the news release said.

Prior to his tenure at Parsons, Amerine was executive vice president and deputy general manager for the CH2M Hill Nuclear Business Group, according to the press release.

Amerine is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, with a bachelor of science degree in nuclear physics and mathematics; the U.S. Naval Post Graduate School with a master's degree in management science; and the Harvard Business School, Advanced Management Program.

Although the news release didn't mention the appointment, NFS also has made a change in safety directors.

David Ward was introduced to the NRC and the audience.

Ward, according to NFS spokeswoman Lauri Turpin is the "interim safety director" of the NFS plant.

He replaces long-time NFS employee Marie Moore in the safety role. Moore attended the meeting. She described herself as a "technical consultant" when introductions were made.