KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Scott Strawn, senior vice president and general manager of the Power Group at Burns & McDonnell, has been appointed to the newly formed Missouri Advanced Nuclear Energy Task Force. Announced by Gov. Mike Kehoe, the task force brings together 23 leaders from utilities, academia, industry and the Missouri General Assembly to evaluate and guide the state’s strategic approach to nuclear energy development.

Established by Executive Order 26-04, the task force serves as the next step in an action plan developed following Missouri’s first Nuclear Summit in July 2025. With the Missouri Department of Natural Resources leading the effort, the group will implement the recommendations of Missouri’s State Energy Plan to deliver a future of reliable power, economic opportunity and long-term energy resilience for communities across the state.

“Burns & McDonnell has been designing and engineering energy infrastructure for over 125 years, including significant work in nuclear, fossil and renewable generation,” Strawn says. “We’re not just advising on policy; we build this infrastructure. Missouri needs voices at the table who understand what it actually takes to site, permit, finance and construct next-generation nuclear power facilities. That’s why I’m excited to represent Burns & McDonnell and share our knowledge to help inform decisions.”

Strawn’s appointment comes at a critical time for the region. Missouri’s energy demand is growing rapidly, driven by the expansion of data centers, manufacturing and widespread electrification. To meet this trajectory, the task force will evaluate both traditional nuclear reactors and modern solutions like small modular reactors (SMRs) and advanced microreactors. These newer technologies are smaller, faster to deploy and more flexible in siting. They are uniquely positioned to deliver the firm, carbon-free baseload power that wind and solar resources alone cannot provide.

The task force will leverage Missouri’s already significant nuclear assets, including the University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR) — where Burns & McDonnell is helping the university develop NextGen MURR, a new 20-MW light water research reactor — and the top-tier nuclear engineering program at Missouri S&T University. By building on this academic infrastructure and industrial base, Missouri is positioned to become a genuine leader in the next wave of nuclear deployment, transforming energy strategy into a robust economic development engine that creates high-skill, permanent jobs.

A key charge of the task force will be examining workforce needs to support this growing industry. By working to see that industry, academia and the trades are fully aligned, the task force aims to translate conceptual plans for new nuclear deployment into definitive, actionable projects that will power Missouri’s future.

About Burns & McDonnell

Working from more than 75 offices around the world, Burns & McDonnell designs and builds critical infrastructure. Our family of companies — driven by engineers, construction professionals, architects, planners, technologists and scientists — delivers projects grounded in safety and a desire to make a difference as we make our clients successful. Founded in 1898, Burns & McDonnell is 100% employee-owned. Learn more.