Michael T. Ryan Elected to Chair NRC Advisory Committee

On 18 November 2004, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) announced the election of Dr. Michael T. Ryan to the position of chairman of the Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste (ACNW). Mike has been a plenary member of the Health Physics Society since 1972, is the 1989 recipient of the Elda E. Anderson Award, is a past director of the Society, is currently the editor in chief of the Journal Health Physics, and is certified by the American Board of Health Physics.

Following is an excerpt from the NRC announcement:

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste (ACNW) has elected Dr. Michael T. Ryan as chairman and Allen G. Croff as vice chairman. They will serve in these new positions for one year. ACNW provides independent technical advice on activities, programs and issues associated with regulating, managing and disposing of radioactive waste.

Dr. Ryan is an independent consultant in radiological sciences and health physics, and an adjunct faculty member in the College of Health Professions at the Medical University of South Carolina, at the College of Charleston, and at Texas A&M University. He has more than 25 years of experience in radioactive waste management and radiation protection. Dr. Ryan has served on the Board of Directors of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements and as the Scientific Vice President for the Council's Radioactive and Mixed Waste Management program. He has authored numerous articles and publications in such areas as radiation dosimetry, radioactive waste management, regulatory compliance for radioactive materials, and environmental radiation assessment. He has been a member of ACNW since June 2002.