OAK RIDGE, TN - After more than four decades in the environmental cleanup industry, United Cleanup Oak Ridge’s (UCOR) President and CEO Ken Rueter has announced he will retire at the end of March 2026. Following his retirement, Rueter will continue to serve UCOR and its mission in a part-time capacity as Executive Board Director beginning in April.

	UCOR President & CEO Kenneth J. Rueter; image by DOE

Rueter has led UCOR, the Department of Energy’s (DOE) prime environmental cleanup contractor for the Oak Ridge Reservation, through more than a decade of transformational success. Under his leadership, UCOR safely completed the largest Superfund cleanup in U.S. history ahead of schedule and under budget, reducing taxpayer liability by billions of dollars. The project enabled the creation of a next-generation nuclear innovation hub in Oak Ridge, attracted billions in private investment, and delivered significant land for conservation and historic preservation.

“Leading UCOR and working alongside our talented workforce and community partners has been the greatest honor of my career,” said Rueter. “Together, we have not only advanced DOE’s critical cleanup mission, but we have also built partnerships that will benefit Oak Ridge and our nation for generations to come.”

As an Executive Board Director, Rueter will serve on the UCOR Board of Directors and provide advice and consultation during the leadership transition. His focus will include supporting stakeholder relationships, mentoring senior leaders, and advising on long-term strategy to ensure continued success.

In addition to UCOR’s contract achievements, Rueter has emphasized safety, workforce development, and community support. UCOR has maintained Star status in DOE’s Voluntary Protection Program—a designation only given to the safest organizations in the DOE complex, opened a Mental Wellbeing Center for the workforce, and invested millions of dollars in education, health, and conservation initiatives across the region.

“Ken Rueter’s leadership has set the standard for excellence in DOE cleanup,” said Mark Whitney, Amentum Energy and Environment Business Group President. “His ability to deliver results safely, efficiently, and with deep community engagement has been exceptional. We are pleased that UCOR and the Oak Ridge community will continue to benefit from his experience and guidance as he transitions to the Executive Board Director role.”

Rueter’s retirement as CEO will take effect on March 30, 2026. He will begin his role as Executive Board Director on April 1, 2026.

UCOR is the DOE Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management’s lead environmental cleanup contractor. The company’s ~2,500 workers are dedicated to safely reducing environmental risk on the Oak Ridge Reservation while helping DOE’s Office of Science and the National Nuclear Security Administration continue their important missions. Learn more about the company at UCOR.com.