Position Sought

David G. Rynders

QUALIFICATION SUMMARY: Retiring Army Lieutenant Colonel with solid leadership skills, CHP, and 14+ years of radiation safety experience including: decommissioning, extensive field work in sample collection and analysis, staff training, site safety plan development and implementation, regulatory compliance, and coordination/cooperation with Federal and local authorities. Radiation Safety Officer experience on NRC license for medical materials.

CERTIFICATION: Certified by the American Board of Health Physics (CHP) in 2002 and re-certified through 2010

PROVEN LEADERSHIP AND TEAMWORK SKILLS

· Army Lieutenant Colonel with 19+ years of formal training and experience, has current military security clearance

· Effective with small (3) to large (100+) sized teams across diverse skill levels and backgrounds

· Excels at training, planning, creative problem solving, and both written and verbal communications (including public speaking)

· Knows how to lead by example as well as by using direction and delegation.

· Intangible traits of: discipline, commitment, loyalty, resourcefulness, respect for authority, and value of effective teamwork

EXPERIENCE

· Chief, Health Physics Division for the United Stated Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine, Germany (2005 to present): As the senior Army health physicist in Europe, provides technical advice, recommendations, regulatory interpretation, and guidance to prevent, minimize, mitigate, and quantify radiation exposure for all types of situations. Accountable for the job performance, professional development and training of the Division staff (2 professional level, and 3 technician level). Ensured technical accuracy and customer satisfaction for three separate technical areas: Medical Health Physics, Industrial Health Physics, and the Non-Ionizing Radiation program. To meet both regulatory and environmental survey goals, managed the equipment maintenance, calibration, and made instrumentation selection decisions. Planned, coordinated, and lead a survey team into Kuwait that collected/counted the samples, and wrote the Final Status Survey report using Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Site Investigation Manual (MARSSIM) guidance which satisfied the unrestricted release criteria. Supervises and trains the organization’s Radiation Safety Officer. By training the two professional level staff on the requirements, regulations, standards, and procedures for conducting x-ray equipment compliance surveys, the staff now works independently. Completed many compliance X-ray shielding evaluations during either the facility design phase or after existing facilities were remodeled to ensure staff safety. Determined a military airfield complied with both U.S. and German exposure standards after performing a non-ionizing (radar) evaluation. Performed a non-ionizing survey (microwave) including detection equipment selection for a satellite communication facility’s safety inspection.

· Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) and Chief, Health Physics Branch at Madigan Army Medical Center (2001 to 2005): As the RSO on a Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) medical materials license constantly used professional knowledge of health physics to manage the radiation safety program. Successfully led the radiation protection efforts for four separate departments of the hospital: Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, Radiation Therapy, and Department of Clinical Investigations. As Branch Chief, was accountable for the four person staffs’ (1 professional level, 3 technician level) job performance and training. Ensured that weekly inspections of radioactive materials use areas were done, dosimetry/bioassay requirements adhered to, detailed monthly audits of records completed, and equipment function checks were completed correctly to ensure both staff safety and quality patient care. Ensured the bioassay requirements to measure the radioactive material in hospital staff’s body were completed and documented. Conducted emergency response training from the individual level (ER staff, fireman), to the hospital level, and all the way up to the Tacoma-Pierce county leadership level. Developed training scenarios with evaluation criteria and was senior evaluator for the hospital’s radiological exercise. In order to directly support two entire new radiation therapy modalities, developed radiation safety policies/procedures to include: regulatory review, radioactive material receipt and control, staff training, technical oversight, and final disposal of the equipment. Lead agent for the Laser Safety Program to include staff training, personal protection equipment selection, and performed periodic inspections. Performed the quarterly NRC required calculations to determine the potential off-site radiological dose from the hospital’s air emissions. By collecting, tracking, quantifying, transporting, storing, securing, and arranging the final disposal, managed all aspects of the radioactive waste disposal program. Created system of portal monitors in the logistics area to passively monitor the medical waste stream which eliminated the need for hand-surveys before waste could be released. This decision saved staff time, reduced costs, and increased radioactive material security. As the Army Regional Radiation Safety Officer, responsible for the annual survey requirements for X-ray machines from Alaska to California (over 100 machines). While in Iraq and Kuwait modified equipment and techniques to adapt to the harsh environment and austere desert conditions. This included adding thermal protection for the detectors, ensuring electronic data storage, and creative staff work schedules to prevent heat injuries.

· Plutonium Remediation Project Manager and Radiation Safety Officer for Johnston Atoll (1997 to 2001): Established project's direction and timeline by writing environmental monitoring plans, Statements of Work for production, and closure decision documents. Ensured contractor’s technical performance, performed public meetings, and conducted extensive interaction with federal and local regulatory agencies along with stakeholders. Controlled the annual budget of $4,000,000 and ensured radiation surveys were done using MARSSIM guidance. As the Radiation Safety Officer used professional judgment to ensure staff exposure was minimized while maintaining production schedule. Used observation, evaluation, and implementation to ensure the complex radiation protection program (involving transuranics) prevented unnecessary radiation exposure. Primary author of the Corrective Measure Study (CMS) used to determine the best disposal method for the transuranic waste and to protect both people and the environment from ionizing radiation. One of the CMS’s purposes was to measure the amount of radiation in the environment, determine the potential uptake into humans and biota, and calculate the resulting radiation exposure. The rest of CMS addressed all possible options for final disposal of the radioactive material along with cleanup values. The CMS was successful in gaining EPA’s formal concurrence with site cleanup values and remediation plan. The project's quality was recognized by the Secretary of Defense for excellence in Environmental Restoration.

· Chief, Health Physics at Silas B. Hayes Army Community Hospital (1992-1994): Led the “day to day” health physics operations of 2 person staff (1 professional level, 1 technician level) supporting two operational clinics: Nuclear Medicine (on a NRC license) and Radiology to include hospital staff training, required sample collection, and dosimetry. Wrote and executed the sample and analysis plan to comply with NRC decommissioning requirements. License was closed 4 months ahead of schedule and saved over $50,000.

EDUCATION HIGHLIGHTS (both civilian and military)

· Command and General Staff College- Ft. Leavenworth, KS. Formal training on how to lead teams and to solve complex problems using a structured decision making process, innovation, critical thinking, development of new approaches, and professional judgment (2004)

· Masters of Science Degree- Oregon State University, Major in Radiation Health Physics and Minor in Public Health (1997)

· Bachelors of Science- South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Physics (1988)

PUBLICATIONS

· Investigation of deplete uranium migration from a military ordnance range: potential consequences and radiological doses- Masters Degree thesis

· Corrective Measures Study/Feasibility Study for the Disposition of Metal/Concrete Debris and Radioactive Coral (above13:5pCi/g) located in the Radiological Control Area on Johnston Island- Defense Threat Reduction Agency (http://www.dtra.mil/aboutlmedia/dhoisctourmiceanlts/environmenptaapl/eiar.cfm)

· Wrote and presented “Role of the Health Physicist in Emergency Response” at a Cascade Chapter meeting of the Health Physics Society- Fall 2004

· Planning for a Successful Decommissioning Project using Backwards Planning and Data Management- Paper and Presentation at the 2007 Health Physics Society’s Professional Development School

ACTIVITIES

· Scouting Program: Awarded the Eagle Scout Badge, Served as Cub Scout Cubmaster (2 years) and Boy Scouts Troop Committee Chairman (2 years)

(This résumé was posted on 10 March 2008.)