SEABROOK, N.H. — Long before Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant generated its first megawatt of electricity, the site was a landscape of cranes and concrete along the New Hampshire coastline—a small city taking shape where marshland meets the Atlantic. 

In February 1981, Dave Robinson stepped onto that worksite as the plant’s first chemistry technician. At 23, he began a nuclear career that he would build his life around. 

Forty-five years later, he still works at Seabrook Station. 

And so does his son. 

Today, as part of NextEra Energy’s nuclear fleet, Seabrook plays a critical role in meeting New England’s energy needs. 

But in those early days, it was still coming to life. Systems were being installed. Procedures were being written. The foundation was being laid for a facility that would power communities across New England for years to come. 

Dave’s work in chemistry was—and still is—about protecting that foundation. 

“If you think about a tea kettle at home, you eventually get buildup inside from minerals in the water,” he explains. “Now imagine boiling water continuously, every hour of every day. Chemistry is responsible for managing that buildup and optimizing system performance so the plant can operate reliably for decades.” 

That work often happens behind the scenes, but its impact reaches far beyond the plant’s gates—helping ensure equipment longevity, system performance and reliable power for the communities Seabrook serves. 

Dave went on to lead both chemistry and radiation protection, supporting Seabrook from startup through decades of operation and performance improvements—work grounded in discipline, precision and a deep understanding of systems built to serve for generations. 

For all of those milestones, though, one of the moments he remembers most clearly didn’t involve a procedure or performance indicator. 

It involved a five-year-old. 

Chris Robinson was still in elementary school when he first came to Seabrook with his father for Take Your Child to Work Day. He remembers the Science and Nature Center, interactive demonstrations and watching a banana that was dipped into liquid nitrogen shatter on impact. He toured the control room. He saw the scale of the operation. He saw his father at work. 

“When Chris got home that afternoon,” Dave recalls, “he said, ‘I want to work in the control room.’” 

It was the kind of declaration only a five-year-old can make—bold and certain. 

But Chris never let it go. 

Nearly 18 years ago, he began his career at Seabrook. Today, he serves as operations department director, having advanced through the control room as a licensed operator and shift manager. 

Looking back, he says the decision felt natural. 

“I don’t think there was ever really a second thought about where I was going to work,” Chris says. 

After earning a degree in chemical engineering, he explored other opportunities. But Seabrook offered something more than a job description. 

By the time Chris graduated college, his father had already spent nearly three decades at the plant. Chris had seen firsthand what a long-term career there looked like—the stability, the teamwork and the sense of purpose that comes with operating a facility responsible for powering communities across the region. 

“As a kid, I didn’t fully understand the hours he put in or how much he cared,” Chris says. “Once I moved into leadership roles myself, I saw it—the pride, the responsibility, the effort behind every decision.” 

That shift—from son to colleague—brought a new dynamic to their relationship. 

For years, Chris called him Dad at work. Eventually, as he stepped into leadership positions and began running meetings, that changed. 

“It took a long time to learn to call him ‘Dave’ in a meeting,” Chris admits with a laugh. “Separating Dad and Dave wasn’t easy. But it’s something we worked through.” 

Today, they operate like any two professionals in the same organization. There are days they barely see each other, even though they work on the same floor. Other days, they sit across from one another in meetings, offering perspectives from different parts of the plant. 

That shared commitment has created moments of pride on both sides. 

In September 2017, under Dave’s leadership, Seabrook achieved zero Chemistry Effectiveness Indicator points—a milestone reflecting sustained excellence in protecting plant systems. For Chris, watching his father and the chemistry team reach that goal was unforgettable. 

“It wasn’t easy,” Chris says. “It took relentless focus and explaining why the details mattered. Seeing that come together was one of my proudest moments.” 

For Dave, the pride runs even deeper. 

“I’m most proud of my son being able to work here,” he says. “I’ve been able to raise my family and work alongside him.” 

Dave and his wife raised seven children in coastal New Hampshire. Today, their family includes 14 grandchildren and one great-grandchild—all living in the same community he has always called home. 

For Chris, that proximity adds meaning to every shift. 

“I go to work knowing my family is nearby,” he says. “And I want to make my dad proud. That’s part of every day for me.” 

One day, Dave will retire. When he does, the plant he helped operate for nearly five decades will continue to serve the region—guided in part by the son who once walked its halls as a child. 

Nearly five decades ago, a 23-year-old stepped onto a construction site looking for a stable career. He couldn’t have known that the five-year-old who once stood beside him in the control room would one day help lead the plant he was helping bring to life.  

“Knowing that I can carry on the legacy of something he’s worked on longer than I’ve been alive means everything to me,” Chris says.