Chris Fessler

Program Manager, NextGen MURR

Phone (573) 882-5205

Chris Fessler is currently serving as the Program Manager for NextGen MURR, the University of Missouri’s initiative to build a 20 MW, state-of-the-art reactor to expand critical medical isotope research and production for cancer treatment and theranostics. Fessler began the role in August 2024. His role is to manage the collection of projects associated with the NextGen MURR initiative, including the new reactor and associated structures, systems, and equipment, and be responsible for oversight and execution of the core program management functions. This includes managing the various project integrations and transitions that are expected to occur throughout the NextGen MURR lifecycle phases. His focus areas include program governance and the management of cost, risk, communications, stakeholders, documentation, resources, and changes. He also supports senior leadership in developing and integrating necessary goals and strategies to ensure the initiative to design, construct, and commission a new research reactor is realized.

Professional and Academic Background

After graduating from the University of Missouri – Columbia in 2007, Fessler started a career in nuclear power at Callaway Energy Center – Ameren Missouri. During his 16 years at Callaway Energy Center, Fessler served in technical and management roles supporting multiple departments.

Fessler served as simulator, instrumentation, and digital controls design engineer in the new nuclear generation department and later in the major modifications and capital projects department. In this role, Fessler started out designing, installing, testing, and commission digital controls, which included systems for guided wave radar, test simulators, digital feedwater controls, and digital turbine controls. He became a project manager and later the department manager of nuclear capital projects. He focused on leadership, engineering designs, project management and capital portfolio management.

Fessler led teams for many capital projects from small to large, with emphasis on safety, security, and efficiency. His higher profile projects involved electrical switchgear, security system upgrades, large-bore piping replacements, underground cable replacements, process monitoring and controlling, battery systems, turbine generator modifications, and control room upgrades. He also staffed and led design control centers during plant outages, specializing in oversight of field installation activities, schedule adherence, and emergent issue response. His department responsibilities included project management procedures, risk management, procurements, contract management, change management, data management, long-range budget planning, performance reporting, and design change control.

Fessler also served Callaway in other leadership roles, including leading the NRC audit on Spent Fuel Pool Level Monitoring for Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) Event Report 11-1 Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Station Fuel Damage Caused by Earthquake and Tsunami and leading the Callaway INPO digital controls assistance visit. He has participated in various INPO and NRC inspections resulting in favorable outcomes. Fessler has received the INPO First-Line Leadership Essentials certification and the Ameren President’s Excellence award for his project team.

Education / Certifications:

BS/MS Electrical Engineering, University of Missouri – Columbia, 2005/2007
Project Management Professional (PMP), PMI
First-Line Leadership Essentials Certification, Institute of Nuclear Power Operations