The newly named acting deputy for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Environment Management’s Hanford Field Office is now its top leader. 

Roger Jarrell, DOE’s principal deputy assistant secretary, announced Brian Harkins’ new role as acting manager for the site in an email sent to Hanford workers on May 19.  

Harkins was named acting deputy manager in April by outgoing site manager Brian Vance, to replace Brian Stickney, who retired via the federal Delayed Resignation Program, a program developed by the Trump administration to reduce the federal workforce. 

“With over three decades of service with the Department of Energy, including extensive expertise in safety and health programs, quality assurance, nuclear safety, environmental permitting and tank farms operations, Brian brings a wealth of experience to the Hanford leadership team,” Jarrell wrote. 

Harkins also sent a message to Hanford workers after being named to his new role, noting that work on the site is in an exciting chapter “as we advance toward stabilizing tank waste in glass later this year, driving down risks and building up opportunities for the future.” 

In his new capacity, Harkins is responsible for an overall annual budget of $3 billion, and oversight of the contractors and more than 13,000 employees involved in the Hanford site cleanup effort.  

A DOE spokesman told the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business that the process of selecting a permanent manager is underway with the agency evaluating candidates.  

Harkins has been at the site for more than 20 years, according to his official DOE biography. He has been the assistant manager for mission support since 2022, managing and delivering infrastructure and services to the site and its contractors, in everything from information technology and security, to utilities and emergency services.  

Harkins also has served as deputy assistant manager for tank farms, Office of River Protection acquisition program manager, and deputy assistant manager for technical and regulatory support. He was named DOE Facility Representative of the Year in 2002.