The Nuclear Energy Institute presented Chris Plucker, a Greeneville native, with a Top Industry Practice (TIP) award at the Nuclear Energy Assembly held in Washington D.C. in May.

TIP awards recognize industry employees for their innovations and contributions to safety, economics and plant performance.

Plucker is a mechanical engineer employed by Areva NP, in Lynchburg, Va. He designed and collaborated with TVA to develop a Reactor Vessel Flange Repair Platform for TVA's Browns Ferry Nuclear plant in northern Alabama.

The platform enables workers to safely and efficiently repair the surface of the reactor vessel, saving at least $1 million in lost electricity generation, outage staffing and worker cost.

Plucker graduated from Greeneville High in 1989, and graudated from the University of Tennessee, School of Engineering in 1993.

He is married to Nicole Vickery Plucker, also an engineer employed by Areva. They have two children.

His parents are Judith and Loren Plucker, of Greeneville.