FOR-PROFIT startup USRA Energy LLC will soon appoint management and staff associated with its new headquarters in Oak Ridge, Tenn., from which it will work with allies to advance the Trump Administration's "Genesis Mission" agenda, which prioritizes addressing science and technology challenges using "AI-accelerated innovation and discovery."

Creation of USRA Energy "aligns with the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) priorities to apply transformational artificial intelligence to next generation workforce development, nuclear innovation, scientific discovery, and mission execution simultaneously," according to today's press release from USRA Energy's nonprofit parent organization, the D.C.-based Universities Space Research Association, a 501(c)(3) created in 1969.

Dr. Elsayed Talaat

In today's press release, USRA Energy's Board of Directors Chair Elsayed Talaat PhD, who is also president and CEO of USRA's nonprofit parent--Universities Space Research Association (USRA)--said, "Establishing USRA Energy is a significant development. For more than four decades, USRA has played a significant role in nuclear energy research, analysis, and workforce development, supporting federal missions and advancing scientific and technical excellence. We are excited about the future and confident that USRA Energy will advance innovations to support the nuclear renaissance."

A spokesperson for both USRA and USRA Energy today told VNC that USRA Energy has yet to finalize USRA's team, though that may be done soon. Among executives associated with USRA Energy are two who are directly associated with the parent (USRA Chairman and USAF Retired Gen. Lester Lyles and USRA CFO Todd Bidwell).

According to records online, in October 2025 USRA Energy LLC was registered in both Tennessee (primary) and in the District of Columbia.

The LLC's registered address suggests its Oak Ridge offices are close to facilities that are now or have previously been occupied by such enterprises as Acato Information Management; ACEC Tennessee; Assured Bio Labs; Berthold Technologies USA; Boston Government Services (and its portfolio company, project integrator Enveniam); Centrus Energy Corp; Edgewater Technical Associates; Evolve Renewable Materials; Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI); Materials & Chemistry Laboratory; Ortec/Ametek; and, Teledyne Brown.

Word of the Oak Ridge headquarters' formation was also disclosed this week during "From Lab to Market: Accelerating AI Innovation," a conference held at Tennessee Technological University, in Cookeville.

Yesterday, Tennessee Tech was formally inducted as a member of the Universities Space Research Association.

According to the USRA press release, USRA Energy "brings together decades of USRA’s experience in national workforce development programs, AI and quantum technologies, and space nuclear research, to help accelerate DOE’s priorities. It aligns corporate capabilities, workforce development, national laboratory engagement, and mission execution into a single integrated model. Drawing on USRA’s 50 years of experience in managing major national institutes and workforce development programs together with four decades of leadership in AI, nuclear research, and environmental initiatives, USRA Energy will offer a distinctive combination of unique capabilities leveraging its parent company’s strengths."

According to his LinkedIn, Jeffrey Isaacson PhD is CEO Emeritus of parent USRA and was until recently a member of the National Science Foundation's National Science Board.

Last month, AP reported on the Trump Administration's firing of all then-current NSB members. VNC

. last edited 1503 19 May 2026