In his role as Chief Technology Officer, Finis oversees the strategic and technical effectiveness of R&D, promotes the AREVA College of Experts, assures development and protection of intellectual property, and coordinates strategic university relationships. He also is responsible for business development of high temperature gas cooled reactors.   

Before joining AREVA, Finis served as Director, Project Management for the Idaho National Laboratory and led the development of the Generation IV Gas Cooled Reactors Roadmap, the Next Generation Nuclear Plant, and the gas cooled New Production Reactor (NP-MHTGR).    While at INL, Dr. Southworth also served as Affiliate Faculty at the University of Idaho and Adjunct Faculty at Idaho State University.  Previously, Finis worked at Florida Power and Light Company in several management positions, and was an Assistant Professor of Nuclear Engineering at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.   

Finis has more than 40 years of experience in the nuclear industry and has earned a BS, MS, and a PhD in Nuclear Engineering Sciences from the University of Florida in Gainesville.