Zach Wamp
About Zach Wamp
Zach P. Wamp (age 67) has served as an independent director of Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. since January 2018. He is President of Zach Wamp Consulting (since 2011) and previously chaired the Board of Chicago Bridge & Iron Federal Services, LLC (2013–2017); he served 16 years in the U.S. House of Representatives (1995–2011), including senior roles on the Appropriations Committee. His public-sector experience, government contracting exposure, and advisory background are cited by the Board as qualifications relevant to Perma-Fix’s nuclear and environmental markets .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. House of Representatives (TN-3) | Member | 1995–2011 | Leadership roles on Appropriations; ranking member on Military Construction & Veterans Affairs; formed TN Valley Technology Corridor (economic development) |
| Chicago Bridge & Iron Federal Services, LLC (subsidiary of CBI) | Board Chair | 2013–2017 | Federal services leadership; U.S. government-facing operations |
| Real Estate (Chattanooga) | Licensed industrial-commercial broker | Prior years (not specified) | Named Chattanooga’s Small Business Person of the Year |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zach Wamp Consulting | President/Owner | 2011–present | Business development advisor to corporate clients |
| Media/Publications | Panelist/commentator | Ongoing | Commentary on legal/national security issues; featured in national publications |
Board Governance
- Independence: The Board determined Wamp is an “independent director” under Nasdaq rules; he also meets independence criteria for Compensation Committee service .
- Committees (2024): Compensation and Stock Option Committee (member); Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee (member); Strategic Advisory Committee (member) .
- Committee activity: Compensation Committee held 6 meetings in 2024; Governance & Nominating held 4; Strategic Advisory held 4 .
- Board attendance: Board held 6 meetings in 2024; no director attended fewer than 75% of Board and committee meetings .
- Board structure: Independent Chairman (Larry M. Shelton) and separate CEO; Lead Independent Director role held by Mark A. Zwecker .
Fixed Compensation
| Component (2024) | Amount (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fees Earned or Paid in Cash | $19,600 | Quarterly fee structure plus meeting fees |
| Stock Awards | $48,535 | Directors can elect 65% or 100% of fees in stock; shares valued at 75% of prior-day close; fully vested on grant |
| Option Awards | $68,700 | 10,000 NQSO granted on July 18, 2024 (exercise price $10.20; 10-year term; vests 25% annually) |
- Director fee policy (2024): Quarterly fee $11,500; additional quarterly $500 for committee membership (non-chair) and $1,250 for Audit members; $1,000 per in-person meeting ($500 virtual); chair adders ($6,250 Audit; $3,125 Compensation/Governance/Strategic); Chairman of the Board receives $8,750 quarterly (not eligible for committee chair fees) .
- Director equity program: 2003 Outside Directors Plan aligns director interests; initial 20,000-share NQSO at first election; 10,000-share NQSO on each re-election; options vest 25% per year over four years .
Performance Compensation
- No performance-based cash metrics disclosed for outside directors; compensation is fixed fees plus equity (stock awards and standard option grants at re-election) .
- Option grant detail:
- 10,000 NQSO granted July 18, 2024; exercise price $10.20; vest 25% annually; 10-year term .
- 10,000 stock options awarded July 24, 2025; exercise price $12.23; Form 4 filed July 25, 2025 (SEC link below) .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company/Entity | Role | Overlap with PESI | Potential Interlock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bridge & Iron Federal Services, LLC | Board Chair (subsidiary of CBI) | Prior role (2013–2017) | Government services overlap with PESI’s federal markets; advisory experience relevant |
- Current public company directorships: None disclosed in proxy biography for Wamp .
- Compensation consultant usage: No external compensation consultant employed by Perma-Fix in 2024 (for executives); compensation oversight by independent committee including Wamp .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Government/DOE/DOD: Significant experience with federal agencies; deep understanding of government decision-making relevant to PESI’s nuclear/environmental services .
- Oversight skills: Regulatory/legal processes; risk management; strategic advisory; business development; public-sector program navigation .
Equity Ownership
| Metric | Value | As Of | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common shares held (direct) | 48,212 | June 2, 2025 | |
| Options exercisable immediately | 28,200 | June 2, 2025 | |
| Options exercisable within 60 days | 10,000 | June 2, 2025 | |
| Total beneficial ownership | 86,412 | June 2, 2025 | |
| Percent of class | <1% | June 2, 2025 | |
| Total options outstanding (Dec 31, 2024) | 53,200 | Dec 31, 2024 |
- Shares pledged as collateral: None disclosed; Stock Trading Policy strongly discourages speculative transactions (short sales, margin accounts, etc.) .
Insider Trades (Form 4)
| Transaction Date | Filing Date | Type | Security | Quantity | Price | Post-Transaction Ownership | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-07-24 | 2025-07-25 | Award (Option grant) | Stock Option (Right to Buy) | 10,000 | $12.23 | N/A (derivative award) | https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/891532/000149315225011404/0001493152-25-011404-index.htm |
| 2025-10-01 | 2025-10-02 | Award (stock) | Common Stock | 1,201 | $7.575 | 50,566 | https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/891532/000149315225016624/0001493152-25-016624-index.htm |
Source: Insider-trades skill using SEC Form 4 data (records show transaction types and post-transaction holdings).
Governance Assessment
- Independence and committee breadth: Wamp is independent and serves on Compensation and Governance committees—key levers for pay policy and board effectiveness—plus Strategic Advisory (strategy oversight), indicating broad governance engagement .
- Attendance/engagement: Board and committee cadence was active in 2024 (Board: 6; Compensation: 6; Governance: 4; Strategic: 4) with no director below 75% attendance, supporting effective oversight .
- Ownership alignment: He holds common shares and a significant option stack under the director equity plan, aligning incentives with shareholder value; director stock awards are tied to fee elections at 75% of market value, fully vested on grant .
- Conflicts/related-party: No related-party transactions disclosed involving Wamp; the Audit Committee reviews related-party matters, and the Code of Ethics prohibits conflicts and personal financial interests with suppliers/customers/competitors .
- Compensation structure: Director pay mixes cash, stock, and standard option grants at re-election; no performance-based cash metrics for directors, reducing discretionary risk; options vest over time, promoting longer-term alignment .
- RED FLAGS: None observed in filings regarding pledging, related-party transactions, option repricing, or low attendance for Wamp; Stock Trading Policy discourages speculative behaviors .
Overall signal: Independent posture, active committee participation, and equity-linked compensation support investor alignment. His government and federal services background is relevant to PESI’s end-markets; no disclosed conflicts or attendance issues reduce governance risk .