The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has named Thomas G.
Ashley Jr. as Director of the Office of Investigations, effective July 30,
2023. Ashley has been acting in the position since the retirement in
February of the previous director, Tracy Higgs.
The Office of Investigations develops policy, procedures and
standards for conducting NRC investigations of alleged wrongdoing by
licensees and other entities. The office conducts and supervises
investigations within the scope of NRC authority except those of NRC
employees and contractors. The office also maintains liaison with other
agencies and organizations to ensure the timely exchange of information
and makes appropriate referrals to the Department of Justice for
prosecution of criminal violations.
“Tom brings an impressive body of work to this appointment with his significant
leadership in highly technical and sensitive positions in the Department of Defense and the U.S.
Navy,” said NRC Executive Director for Operations Daniel H. Dorman. “His leadership has
proven invaluable while he was in an acting capacity, and I am pleased he has been selected for
this important position.”
Ashley joined the NRC in March 2020 as director of the Information Technology
Services Development and Operations Division in the Office of the Chief Information
Officer. Prior to joining the NRC, Thomas was director of IT Transformation at the Defense
Counterintelligence and Security Agency. Previously, he served as deputy assistant director for
information technology at the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. In that role he led a team of
roughly 120 federal civilian, uniformed military, and contractor personnel, servicing 160
locations around the globe.
Ashley started his civilian federal service in 2009 at the Defense Security Service, where
he served as the IT lead for the Defense Security Service Defense Industrial Security Clearance
Office in Columbus, Ohio, overseeing daily operations from an IT/communications perspective.
His federal career began in the U.S. Navy, where he served 12 years providing afloat and
land base telecommunications, satellite communications, and information technology support.
He is the recipient of a Joint Service Commendation medal, a Navy/Marine Corps
Commendation medal, four Navy/Marine Corps Achievement medals, and three Flag Letters of
Commendation.
Ashley holds a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity from The George Washington
University and is a graduate of the Naval Senior Leadership Academy (Naval Postgraduate
School) and the NRC Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program.
