Dale E. Klein

Dr. Dale E. Klein became Chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in July 2006. He previously served as Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical & Biological Defense Programs. 

Klein "was sworn in as the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Nuclear and Chemical and Biological Defense Programs (ATSD(NCB)) on November 15, 2001. In this position, he is the principal staff assistant and advisor to the Secretary of Defense and Deputy Secretary of Defense and the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology (USD(AT&L)) for all matters concerning the formulation of policy and plans for nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons.  The ATSD(NCB) also is directly responsible to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense for matters associated with nuclear weapons safety and security, chemical weapons demilitarization, chemical and biological defense programs, and smoke and obscurants.

"Prior to his appointment by President George W. Bush, Dr. Klein was a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering (Nuclear Program) at The University of Texas at Austin. He was the Vice-Chancellor for Special Engineering Programs at The University of Texas System from 1995 until November 2001.  Dr. Klein also served as the Chairman and Executive Director of the Amarillo National Research Center (ANRC), during which time he oversaw over $45 million of funding concerning plutonium research and nuclear weapon dismantlement issues.

"Dr. Klein held other positions during his tenure at The University of Texas at Austin: Director of the Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory; Deputy Director of the Center for Energy Studies; and Associate Dean for Research and Administration in the College of Engineering.

"In addition to his duties at The University of Texas at Austin and the ANRC, Dr. Klein was an active member of several Department of Energy national committees, including the Nuclear Energy Research Advisory Committee.

"He has been honored with the distinction of Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Nuclear Society. Dr. Klein has also received many awards, including the Joe J. King Professional Engineering Achievement Award by UT Austin and Engineer of the Year for the State of Texas by the Texas Society of Professional Engineers.  Having received his Ph.D. in nuclear engineering from the University of Missouri-Columbia, Dr. Klein has been honored with the University of Missouri Faculty-Alumni Award and the University of Missouri Honor Award for Distinguished Service in Engineering.

"While at the University of Texas Austin, Dr. Klein received over $50 million in research funding, equipment and educational support. He has published over 100 technical papers and reports, and co-edited one book.  He has made over 300 presentations on energy and has written numerous technical editorials on energy issues that have been published in major newspapers throughout the United States."

Source: University of Texas. - Klein "was previously the Vice Chancellor for Special Engineering Programs and Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas. Additionally, he was the Executive Director and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Amarillo National Resource Center for Plutonium. He served with the University of Texas System from 1977 until 2001, holding various positions, including Associate Dean for Research and Administration for the College of Engineering and Head of Nuclear Programs at the Center for Energy Studies. Dale received his Bachelor's, Master's and Doctorate degrees from the University of Missouri."

Dr. Dale Klein, Vice Chancellor for Special Engineering Programs; Professor, University of Missouri, Columbia.

"Dr. Klein's expertise is in radioactive waste disposal. He has served on the College of Engineering faculty since 1977. He was associate dean for research from 1988 to 1996. He has three years of industrial experience, has published more than 100 technical articles and reports, edited one book, and given more than 300 talks on energy."

Fields of Specialization:
 * Radioactive Waste Disposal
 * Thermal Analysis of Nuclear Shipping Containers
 * Nuclear Weapon Dismantlement

SourceWatch resources

 * Nuclear Regulatory Commission
 * Project BioShield
 * Weapons of mass destruction

Articles

 * David Biello, "U.S. Will Approve New Nuclear Reactors: British official says she's been informed the U.S. will approve at least three new nuclear power plants," Scientific American, March 28, 2008.