Childs recognized for leadership in nuclear industry

Mechanical engineering alumna Natasha (Smith) Childs (BSME 1999) is being recognized for her exemplary work in the nuclear energy industry and leadership with a 2025 MechSE Distinguished Alumni Award.

After moving several times during her childhood, Childs was able to reconnect with her hometown as an undergraduate. She found comfort and community at Illinois and was able to follow in the footsteps of her father and uncle—both of whom are alumni.

“I really wanted to get back home to Champaign-Urbana,” she said. “When I got accepted to the University of Illinois, I knew that was where I was going to end up. It wasn’t even a choice anymore—it felt more like home to me.”

While attending Illinois, Childs also worked a part-time job in transportation for Champaign-Urbana's Mass Transit District. Because she was a working full-time student, time management played a big role in her college career. She developed useful study skills and took advantage of available resources in her program.

“I really struggled with coursework during the first two years of my program,” she said. “A lot of professors had office hours that I was able to go to, so it was very helpful to get assistance on concepts that I didn’t fully understand.”

In addition to coursework and employment, Childs was also involved in the National Society of Black Engineers at Illinois. She was among the few Black women in her graduating class.

With her father’s encouragement and experience in the energy industry, Childs began her career in the nuclear energy industry and worked as a design and systems engineer at nuclear power plants in Michigan and Tennessee, developing design modification packages and ensuring system performance and reliability. During this time, she was also involved in multiple professional organizations, including the American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE), North American Young Generation in Nuclear (NA-YGN), and Women in Nuclear (WIN).

Childs later transitioned to the regulatory side of the nuclear industry when she was accepted into the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) resident inspector development program. After successfully completing the program, she became a resident inspector and worked for more than a decade at nuclear power plants in Florida, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

“As resident inspectors, we are the eyes and ears of the agency to ensure that the site is following the regulations and guidelines,” she said. “Each nuclear site has two or three resident inspectors who work for the NRC. Resident inspectors live in the area and provide an everyday presence to our sites.”

Childs enjoyed the unique challenges and learning opportunities at each nuclear site, with each presenting different equipment challenges and organizational cultures. She believes her experience working at various sites and living in the local areas has enhanced her technical knowledge and skill set, industry perspective, and ability to adapt to change.

“By working in a variety of areas across the country, there was a big difference in the work culture itself,” she explained. “I was able to interact with individuals from high-level management to maintenance workers in the field, and those experiences varied at each geographical location. Despite being a naturally quiet and shy person, I was able to step outside of my comfort zone whenever I was in a new place. It has been a very good experience for me.”

Recently promoted to senior project engineer in the Atlanta, Georgia regional office, she leads inspection teams, conducts plant assessment activities, provides guidance and mentorship to new inspectors, and serves as the liaison between onsite resident inspectors and the Atlanta Regional and NRC Headquarters offices. With her extensive experience, she has become a leader and valuable resource within the NRC.

“With my position now, I think I get along well with the residents at the site,” she said. “I understand what they’re going through and the job itself. It’s easier for me to communicate with them and advocate for them to our management team.”

Earlier this year, Childs received the Science Spectrum Trailblazer Black Engineer of the Year Outstanding Achievement Award, for which she was nominated by her branch chief.

With the support of her friends and family, she has been able to grow and succeed in the traditionally homogeneous fields of mechanical and nuclear engineering. She encourages all future engineers to focus on their goals and work hard to achieve them, especially if their identity doesn’t happen to align with the majority of the profession.

“Don’t be silent if you feel a negative presence or are uncomfortable in the environment around you,” Childs said. “Use your voice and do something about it. Seek out a person that you trust to talk to and let them know about the situation. Just keep pushing through.”

Childs will be recognized at the MechSE Awards Banquet on April 11.