Dr. George W. Cunningham has served as the Technical Director for the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board since December 1990. Dr. Cunningham is an expert in the fields of nuclear energy and waste management.

Dr. Cunningham has held a number of senior level positions in the Federal Government including Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy, U.S. Department of Energy, from January 1980 to January 1981. Previously at the Energy Research and Development Administration, he held the position of Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Nuclear Energy; Director, Waste Management Division. He was Program Director for Nuclear Energy, U.S. Department of Energy; Counselor for Atomic Energy Matters, U.S. Mission to International Atomic Energy Agency. Prior to his appointment with the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, Dr. Cunningham was Director of Technology Studies, The MITRE Corporation, and Director of the MITRE Institute.

Dr. Cunningham holds Bachelor and Master of Science Degrees from the University of Tennessee in Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering and Doctorate in Metallurgical Engineering from Ohio State University.