Kevin Burnett

Since moving to Wilmington eight years ago, Kevin has taken advantage of the work-life balance, endless outdoor recreation and welcoming environment our beach town offers to plant his roots.

Kevin Burnett never expected to end up in North Carolina. A New York native, he grew up in Utica and remained in-state for his undergraduate degree, completing a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at the Rochester Institute of Technology. But then, he got a call that would change his life.

Post-graduation, Kevin was set to take a job in Albany, NY – until Duke Energy Co. invited him down to Southport, NC for an interview. With nothing to lose, he decided he’d take a chance, and headed to North Carolina with no expectations. Flying from Rochester in the middle of a blizzard, he was shocked to step off the plane to sunny 80-degree weather in Southport. The change in climate was visceral, and after a tour of the beach and an excellent interview process, he was sold on the job. Ultimately, he chose to settle down in Wilmington and make the commute to work because he liked the city so much more than Southport or Leland.

In the eight years since then, Kevin has moved from Duke to join GE Hitachi, where he is a Lead Nuclear Component Engineer. There, he designs components for the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP), which is a government-funded project by the Department of Energy through TerraPower. GEH is currently partnered with TP to design and build their Natrium Plant, which is part of the ARDP.

Outside of work, Kevin is an officer for GEH’s chapter of the North American Young Generation in Nuclear (NAYGN), an organization dedicated to educating the public on the benefits of nuclear and encouraging the retention of young professionals in the field. As an active member of NAYGN for almost ten years, Kevin has helped to develop NAYGN’s first two children’s books, both nationally distributed, and dedicated hundreds of hours to spreading education and awareness of nuclear energy throughout his community. In 2023, he was awarded the NAYGN Individual Achievement Award for his work with the organization.

Beyond volunteering, Kevin takes advantage of the laidback lifestyle of Wilmington to spend time with his family, relax at the beach and participate in outdoor sports such as surfing, ultimate frisbee, volleyball and tennis. Coming from New York, he appreciates the work-life balance that Wilmington encourages, the likes of which he wasn’t able to find in his home state. With plenty of events around the city, from food truck rodeos to trivia and live music, there’s endless opportunities for entertainment in Wilmington.

Having made such a big transition in his move from New York to North Carolina, Kevin especially appreciates the community, which he’s found to be welcoming to young populations and new parents. In recent years, that community has only grown, as transplants – particularly from the Northeast – have been flocking to Wilmington. To accommodate that steady influx of growth, the city has built new infrastructure, adding apartment complexes and a bypass to alleviate traffic concerns around the city.

Between the climate, recreation, diversity of people moving in and welcoming community, there’s plenty to love about Wilmington.