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8 | SRNS TODAY | MARCH 2021TODAY | MARCH 2021
8 | SRNS

SRNS and South Carolina State University (SC State) are partnering
to create a Fire Protection Engineering degree program, which
fulfills a workforce need at SRS and provides new career
opportunities for university students.
Hiring Fire Protection Engineers (FPEs) at
SRS is a challenge because no regional Hot
schools offer the degree. An FPE analyzes
fire hazards; performs building analyses,
inspections, fire code and engineering
evaluations; and approves new fire protection
system installations and design documents for facility construction.

“We’re excited about the discussions taking place with SC State to topic
create an FPE program. Early on, we provided information to the
university about the skills students should have upon graduating,
and then the university created the curriculum and proposed
courses for a degree program,” said Eric Johnson, SRNS Fire
Protection Engineer Manager. SRNS partners
To offer this program to their students, SC State must receive
approval from the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education with SC State
and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
“The College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and to create a
Transportation is very delighted for the opportunity to partner with
Savannah River Nuclear Solutions to find solutions to problems of
new
mutual interest,” said Dr. Stanley Ihekweazu, Department of Civil and Fire Protection
Mechanical Engineering Technology and Nuclear Engineering Dean.
Both SRNS and SC State will benefit from the new program. Engineering
SC State will utilize the program as a recruiting tool, and SRNS
will grow its talent pipeline. In February 2020, SRNS and the degree program
university signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), ensuring
support for mutually beneficial programs. The creation of this Fire
Protection Engineering program is one tangible result of the MOU.
“We are looking forward to this new program at SC State getting
underway,” said Rich Zaharek, SRNS Director of Engineering
Technical Services. “It is a great example of how our partnership
with the university ensures that graduating students who want to
work at SRNS have the skills needed to qualify for these specialized
positions. The degree program will also benefit companies
throughout the state, region and Department of Energy complex as
Fire Protection is a critical element for other industries as well.”