Admiral (Ret.) James F. “Frank” Caldwell Jr.

Orion Nuclear is honored to welcome Admiral (Ret.) James F. “Frank” Caldwell Jr. as President & Chief Operating Officer and Vice Chairman of the Board. Admiral Caldwell most recently led the U.S. Navy’s Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program (NNPP) from August 2015 until his January 2024 retirement, a dual-hatted billet in both the Department of the Navy and the Department of Energy.

A fifth-generation U.S. Naval Academy graduate (1981) who later earned an M.S. in Operations Research from the Naval Postgraduate School, he oversaw the world’s largest and safest nuclear-powered fleet—logging more than 15 million steaming miles and 800 reactor-years without a reactor-related incident. Under his tenure, the NNPP qualified 3,800 officers and 14,600 sailors, delivered the first-in-class USS Gerald R. Ford, and began construction of District of Columbia (SSBN-826), alongside 10 Virginia-class submarines.

Caldwell’s command pedigree spans the attack submarine USS Jacksonville (SSN-699), Submarine Development Squadron 12, Submarine Group 9, and the entire U.S. Pacific Fleet Submarine Force (SUBPAC). Earlier in his career, he served as division officer on USS Boston (SSN-703), as engineering officer on USS Alabama (SSBN-731), and as executive officer on USS Buffalo (SSN-715).

Internationally, he deepened nuclear-propulsion cooperation with the United Kingdom under the 1958 US-UK Mutual Defence Agreement and helped architect the AUKUS partnership to equip Australia with conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines.

On August 5, 2015, Caldwell was confirmed by the US Senate as Admiral, becoming the seventh director of Naval Reactors, a position first held by the founder of the U.S. Nuclear Navy, Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, on August 14, 2015.

His four-decade career is decorated with the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, and the Naval Submarine League’s Lockwood Award for Submarine Professional Excellence.

From August 31, 2022, to his retirement, Caldwell was the Navy's Old Goat, the longest serving United States Naval Academy graduate on active duty.

At Orion Nuclear, Admiral Caldwell will guide operations, engineering excellence, and safety culture—bringing the same rigor and mission discipline that have safeguarded 96 naval reactors worldwide.