Riaz Awan is vice president of Ukraine operations and serves as Holtec’s executive sponsor of Ukraine’s Central Spent Fuel Storage Facility and is responsible for operations of Holtec’s subsidiary Holtec Ukraine. He is also responsible for business development in Ukraine and Eastern Europe.

Under Awan’s leadership, Holtec successfully commissioned and received a full operating license for the Chornobyl Interim Spent Fuel Storage Facility the first-of-kind world’s largest used fuel storage facility. The dedication event, deploying its state-of-the-art technology, presided by President Zelensky, sent an unambiguous message of Ukraine’s global leadership in the field of safety of used nuclear fuel management.

Awan has an additional appointment as vice president of corporate oversight, providing oversight for the company’s operations across all business units. He is also the managing director of the business and financial operations of Holtec subsidiary Nuclear Consultants International. In these positions, Awan reports directly to Holtec’s Chief Executive Officer.

Professional History

Awan has over 40 years of distinguished experience working in both the private and public sectors of the nuclear energy industry in the U.S. and overseas. He has held positions of increasing responsibilities as U.S. Government Executive, as a U.S. Diplomat, and as an Executive in the private sector. His extensive knowledge of global energy both in the policy and regulatory areas, and his successful track record of project execution has made him a premier leader in the field.

Awan retired after 22 years of acclaimed service with the U.S. Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) in December 2011. During this time, Awan served in several capabilities, swiftly moving up the chain of leadership. His first assignment was program manager for the DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy where he was responsible for ensuring safe operations of nuclear facilities. Awan then served as the senior program manager in the DOE’s International Programs Office where he managed numerous nuclear safety and nonproliferation programs in Ukraine, and Eastern and Central Europe. He was then promoted to director and senior energy attaché of the DOE office at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine managing a large portfolio of energy security, nuclear safety, nonproliferation, Chornobyl decommissioning and environmental restoration and research programs. Finally, he served as the senior director of the DOE European Regional Office at the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria. During this time, Awan established the DOE’s first ever Bulgaria regional office and significantly advanced the U.S. Government and DOE/NNSA nonproliferation and energy security objectives in Central and Southeast Europe, the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea regions. 

Before joining the DOE, Awan worked in the private U.S. nuclear energy sector for more than ten years.

Industry Leadership

Awan is the recipient of the 2011 DOE/NNSA Administrator Gold Medal, the 2009 DOE/NNSA Administrator Silver Medal, the Prestigious 2003 Service to America Medal for National Security and International Affairs, the 2002 Secretary of Energy Award. He has also been recognized as an effective U.S. diplomat to advance U.S. commercial industry business and U.S. national security objectives in several countries.  Awan has also received numerous letters of appreciation and accommodations from the United States Congress, United States Government, Government of Ukraine, and U.S. Commercial Firms for his superior service in Ukraine.