I&C with Tighe Smith: The Nervous System of a Nuclear Reactor

<p><strong>ABOUT THIS EPISODE</strong></p><p>What keeps a nuclear power plant running safely after 50 years? <strong>Tighe Smith</strong> knows better than almost anyone. As Chief Nuclear Officer at Paragon Energy Solutions — now part of Mirion Technologies following a $585 million acquisition — Tighe has spent his career in nuclear instrumentation and control (I&amp;C): the nervous system of every reactor.</p><p>In this episode, we get into what I&amp;C actually does, why some of the control systems inside U.S. nuclear plants predate the transistor, how Paragon reverse-engineers obsolete circuit cards with 1970s components, and how they broker spare parts between 94* reactors across the country — 3,000 parts a year, same-day or next-day shipping. Plus: the workforce reality of digital upgrades, advanced reactor design, and a culture built on three P&#39;s and three C&#39;s.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>WHAT YOU&#39;LL LEARN</strong></p><p>- What instrumentation and control (I&amp;C) is and why it&#39;s the most invisible-but-critical system in any nuclear plant</p><p>- Why some U.S. reactor control systems still use technology from before the transistor was invented</p><p>- How Paragon reverse-engineers obsolete circuit cards — and why rotating a transistor 90 degrees can introduce failure modes</p><p>- The PEAKS program: how 3,000 parts move between 94 reactors every year</p><p>- Why nuclear plants carry $100 million in spare parts inventory (and why it&#39;s worth it)</p><p>- The analog vs. digital debate: why a digital upgrade only makes sense if you&#39;re planning to run a plant for 20+ more years</p><p>- How I&amp;C changes for advanced reactors — simpler safety systems, new challenges</p><p>- Paragon&#39;s Three P&#39;s (Present, Persistent, Passionate) and Three C&#39;s (Competence, Commitment, Character)</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><strong>CONNECT WITH PARAGON/MIRION</strong></p><p>LinkedIn (Tighe Smith): Search &quot;Tighe Smith Paragon Energy Solutions&quot;</p><p>Paragon Energy Solutions (now Mirion Technologies): <a href="https://www.mirion.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://www.mirion.com/</a></p><p>Mirion Technologies LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/mirion-technologies/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://www.linkedin.com/company/mirion-technologies/</a></p><p><br></p><p>RESOURCES MENTIONED</p><p>- HIPS (Highly Integrated Protection System) — Paragon&#39;s FPGA-based digital safety platform<