OAK RIDGE, TN (February 2026) – Navarro is proud to announce that Dr. Robert C. O’Brien has joined the company as the Vice President of Space Programs. He will focus on expanding our galactic portfolio.

Prior to joining Navarro, Dr. O’Brien served as the Director of the Center for Space Nuclear Research in Idaho Falls and as adjunct Professor at the University of Idaho. Dr. O’Brien is a subject matter expert in advanced space power, propulsion and energy utilization technologies including nuclear systems testing, as well as in-situ resource utilization, material extraction and manufacturing science and engineering.

Dr. O’Brien has led special reactor concept projects, advanced nuclear instrumentation, nuclear fuels, national and international projects and initiatives at Idaho National Laboratory for NASA, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Defense. He also led the development of Advanced Manufacturing capabilities for DOE including first-of-a-kind capabilities to utilize electric Field Assisted Sintering Techniques (eFAST) and was responsible as architect of capabilities at INL’s Materials and Fuels Complex Advanced Fuels Facility for the first experiments and production of nuclear reactor fuels using innovative manufacturing techniques.

As Principal Investigator under the DOE Transient Testing Program, Dr. O’Brien served as part of the TREAT Reactor Restart Project (2012-2018) and led some of the first modern experiments in TREAT as Principal Investigator of the NASA SIRIUS Testing campaign (testing Space Nuclear Propulsion Program fuels under hydrogen at temperatures up to 3000 K).

Prior to his experience within the DOE laboratory system, Dr. O’Brien’s early career was as a researcher at the University of Leicester Space Research Center where he initiated assessments for a UK – European solution for radioisotope power (nuclear batteries) and the use of 241-Am as a heat source fuel; performing early americium oxide-cermet encapsulation experiments.

Dr. O’Brien holds a Master’s of Physics with Space Science & Technology from the University of Leicester (2006) and a PhD in Physics Research from the University of Leicester (2010). He was a nominated Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society 2008. Dr. O’Brien holds multiple patents and patents pending in advanced nuclear fuel, Directed Energy, ceramic processing, ballistic materials, nuclear and non-nuclear feedstock processing.

In his free time, he enjoys astrophotography, guitar building and watch restoration. He also enjoys going to see his favorite band, Muse, whenever he can and spending time outdoors, traveling with his family!

Navarro is an award-winning provider of turnkey solutions, delivering comprehensive nuclear, environmental and technical services to federal agencies, commercial enterprises and private clients across the United States. Our expertise supports organizations such as the Department of Energy, the National Nuclear Security Administration, the Department of Defense and NASA, while also extending to commercial industries and private sector partners facing complex engineering, technical and environmental challenges. Navarro specializes in nuclear operations, environmental remediation, D&D, waste management, advanced energy, facilities management and technical and professional services. For more information, please visit Navarro-inc.com.  

Media Contact:

Ryan Overton, Executive Vice President

Phone: 865-399-4229

Email: overton@navarro-inc.com