Nuclear reactors aren't just for the boys

Autumn Higgins is the first female nuclear reactor operator in Sandia National Laboratories' history

by DARRICK HURST

If Autumn Higgins could summarize the journey that’s brought her to where she is today, she’d use one word: blessed.

“I look at myself and think, I’m one of those people who shouldn’t have ended up where I am,” Higgins said. “‘Blessed’ is an understatement in my view.”

Click here to view an interactive timeline of Higgins' journey to becoming the first female nuclear reactor operator at Sandia National Laboratories.

The first female nuclear reactor operator at Sandia National Laboratories, Higgins is a member of a team that runs the Annular Core Research Reactor and the Sandia Pulse Reactor, which studies the effects of radiation on various materials.

“In simple terms, we perform tests on materials, components and systems to study the effects of radiation,” Higgins said.

Luck and Hard Work

Higgins says she would never have become a nuclear reactor operator had it not been for the combination of “sheer luck and hard work” that’s made up her life.

“I originally had no intention of becoming involved with this science or line of work,” Higgins said. “Actually, I went to college near my hometown as a French major at the University of Kentucky before entering the United States Navy.”

When enlisting in the military in 1995, Higgins was scheduled to begin training as an aircraft mechanic. However, her training was unexpectedly delayed and she decided to use the extra time to take an aptitude test to determine if she qualified for other jobs available in the Navy.

“I took what turned out to be about a 45-minute test, and when the scores came back, they told me I’d placed high enough in math and science that they suggested that I consider entering into the [Navy’s] nuclear program,” Higgins said. “This program had just opened up within the last year to women again, and I was thrilled about having the opportunity to be a part of it.”

While in the Navy, Higgins operated nuclear reactors onboard a submarine and the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75).

“I really loved the range of experiences that came with that job,” Higgins said.

After the Navy

After completing six years in the Navy, Higgins moved into the commercial sector as a non-licensed nuclear operator for Surry Power in southeastern Virginia. After nearly two years there, she met her husband at a local rodeo and moved to New Mexico to be closer to his family.

“Being that a nuclear reactor operator is a very specialized field of work, I wanted to continue working in that area,” Higgins said. “I took a position at Los Alamos National Labs in the Operations Center at Tech Area 55, before eventually coming to Sandia Labs to work as a reactor operator.

“I love operating reactors,” she said. “I’ve operated them for propulsion, power, and most recently here at SNL, for research. I hope the world can come to know and appreciate what the possibilities are from a nuclear sense — no one should fear the possibilities.”

A joy to work with

Higginss’ co-workers describe working with her as an easy and professional experience.

“Higgins has been a good addition to our staff,” said fellow operator, Sid Domingues. “She’s an eager participant in the daily operation of the facility, and although she was only involved with operations for the short time that we operated prior to the shutdown of the reactor, she has always been very willing to learn, making her an effective member of our team from the beginning.”

“Higgins is a joy to work with,” said Matt Burger, an engineer at the reactor. “She brings enthusiasm and energy to the work she does. She was invaluable to the work that we completed. She worked with experimenters and operated SPR under supervision while in training as a member of the SPR staff that completed about 600 reactor operations in a single, very busy year.”

Higgins says she hopes her story inspires others to reach beyond their circumstances and expectations.

“Whenever life presents you with an opportunity to pursue something outside what you may have been looking for, think about seizing that opportunity because you never know what life may have in store for you.” Higgins said.

Following the recent decommission of the SPR, Higgins will be continuing work in critical testing full-time at the ACRR.

Written April 14, 2008

Go to Top