Curio hires Paul Oleyar as quality chief for NuCycle push

Curio has named Paul Oleyar as director of quality assurance as the nuclear technology startup moves to commercialize its NuCycle recycling system. Oleyar will oversee companywide quality efforts from Washington starting July 6, bringing more than two decades of nuclear and manufacturing experience.

Why it matters: - Curio’s commercialization plans for NuCycle depend on quality systems that can support nuclear safety, compliance and scale-up. - The hire adds senior operational experience to a startup trying to move an advanced nuclear recycling technology toward market use.

What happened: - Curio hired Paul Oleyar as director of quality assurance. - Oleyar will work from Curio’s Washington, DC headquarters starting Monday, July 6, 2026. - Oleyar will serve as the primary quality assurance authority for the company. - His role covers oversight and guidance to all departments on quality-related matters.

The details: - Curio said Oleyar’s mandate is to help foster a culture of compliance, continuous improvement and nuclear safety. - Oleyar brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in nuclear energy, engineering services and industrial manufacturing. - He most recently was vice president of business operations at TN Americas. - At TN Americas, Oleyar directed project management and oversaw the dry storage business line with full P&L responsibility. - Oleyar previously held senior roles at Areva, now Orano. - He also worked as a lead design engineer for Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory and the Curtiss-Wright Corporation. - Oleyar earned a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. - He earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from West Virginia University. - Oleyar is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. - Curio describes NuCycle as its award-winning, first-of-a-kind technology. - Curio says the technology has achieved lab-scale validation across four Department of Energy national labs. - Curio says it has secured $14 million in competitive federal grants. - Curio says it has partnered with Utilities Service Alliance on collaboration and supplier-partner agreement options for 18 operating U.S. member reactors. - Curio says Fast Company named NuCycle a winner of the 2026 World Changing Ideas Awards. - Curio’s website is More information.

Between the lines: - The appointment signals Curio is prioritizing operational rigor as it tries to turn a technical platform into a commercial product. - A dedicated QA leader can be especially important in nuclear-adjacent work, where regulatory expectations and safety standards shape commercialization timelines. - Oleyar’s mix of project management, dry storage and engineering experience suggests Curio wants leadership with both technical and business execution depth.

What's next: - Oleyar begins his role on July 6, 2026. - Curio is expected to continue building the quality and compliance structure needed to support NuCycle’s commercialization. - The company’s next milestones will likely center on further technical validation, partnerships and market readiness.