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Navy NEC · Engineering

N23O Surface Ship Nuclear Propulsion Plant Operator: Reactor Control

Current service use not established

This code is listed in the directory. Inclusion alone does not confirm current service use.

A Navy Enlisted Classification: a skill designation sailors hold in addition to their rating.

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Overview

A Surface Ship Nuclear Propulsion Plant Operator specializing in reactor control operates reactor control systems aboard surface ships. The operator performs organizational level maintenance on these systems.

Core Skills

  • Organizational-level maintenance of reactor control systems

Civilian Career Paths

Career associations are editorial assessments of the cited evidence, not an official crosswalk unless the evidence explicitly says so. O*NET supplies civilian occupation information, not proof of a military match. Related experience does not confer civilian qualifications. Tasks and tools below describe civilian work, not military training.

Nuclear Power Reactor Operators

Operating reactor control systems for surface ship nuclear propulsion plants transfers directly to the control-system focus of civilian reactor operations.

How to prepare: Ask a commercial nuclear facility's operator-training program to assess your documented Navy training and experience against its entry criteria. NRC operator licensing requires meeting the facility's education, training, and experience requirements, with facility certification of training and experience; the license is valid only for that facility.

What the civilian work involves
  • Operate nuclear power reactors in accordance with policies and procedures to protect workers from radiation and to ensure environmental safety.
  • Adjust controls to position rod and to regulate flux level, reactor period, coolant temperature, or rate of power flow, following standard procedures.

Nuclear Technicians

Reactor control-system operation and organizational-level maintenance provide a foundation for nuclear equipment performance monitoring and testing.

How to prepare: Compare your documented reactor control maintenance work with nuclear technician postings focused on equipment testing, and identify the plant-specific testing procedures you would need to learn.

What the civilian work involves
  • Monitor nuclear reactor equipment performance to identify operational inefficiencies, hazards, or needs for maintenance or repair.
  • Test plant equipment to ensure it is operating properly.

Notes & Sources

Evidence for this guidance (4 documents)
  1. NAVPERS 18068F Vol II (NEOCS, Jul 2026 edition): NEC N23O

    [1] NEC entry "N23O - Surface Ship Nuclear Propulsion Plant Operator - Reactor Control"; cached text line 8659; NAVPERS 18068F Vol II, 2026-07 edition

    Supports: Organizational-level maintenance of reactor control systems, Nuclear Power Reactor Operators (O*NET 51-8011.00), Nuclear Technicians (O*NET 19-4051.00)

  2. O*NET: Nuclear Power Reactor Operators

    [2] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Supports: Nuclear Power Reactor Operators (O*NET 51-8011.00)

  3. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission: Licensing Process for Operators

    [3] Process for New Operator Licenses; page last reviewed/updated September 15, 2026

    Supports: Nuclear Power Reactor Operators (O*NET 51-8011.00)

  4. O*NET: Nuclear Technicians

    [4] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Supports: Nuclear Technicians (O*NET 19-4051.00)

Defense contractor jobs for N23O

Descriptions may be summarized for clarity. Verify all information with your branch career counselor or official military documentation before making career decisions.

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