OAS wants to thank all of our presenters here at the 2024 OAS Annual Meeting in Santa Cruz, California. Please take a moment to get to know the speakers.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Commissioner David A. Wright
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The Honorable David A. Wright was first sworn in as a Commissioner of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on May 30, 2018. He is currently serving a term ending on June 30, 2025.
Before joining the NRC, Commissioner Wright served as an energy and water consultant and policy advisor on nuclear waste issues. He is a former president of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners and served as Vice Chairman and Chairman of the South Carolina Public Service Commission. He was also elected councilman and mayor in Irmo, S.C. and to the South Carolina House of Representatives. A colon cancer survivor, Commissioner Wright is an advocate for cancer awareness and education. He is a proud father and grandfather and has enjoyed umpiring baseball for nearly 50 years. He is a graduate of Clemson University. |
The following speakers are in alphabetical order
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Huda Akhavannik
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Huda Akhavannik is an Intergovernmental Liaison Project Manager in the Office of Nuclear Materials Safety and Safeguards. For the past three years, she has enjoyed working with the Agreement States and CRCPD on various issues impacting the NMP. Since joining the NRC in 2010, Huda has worked in different areas of the NRC including reactor instrumentation and control, reactor operating experience, reactor license renewal, and transportation of Type B and A(F) quantities of nuclear material. Huda has a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the George Washington University and lives in Houston, TX with her husband.
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Max Amurao
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Max Amurao has been in the Medical Physics and Radiation/Magnet/Laser Safety field for over 20 years. He has served as a Radiation Safety Officer for Type A broad-scope materials licenses of academic/medical institutions in various NRC and agreement states (FL, MO, NY, DC, TX). He is a Licensed Medical Physicist in Florida, Texas, and New York; and a registered Medical Physicist in Missouri and Illinois. In addition to being heavily involved in Safety and Medical Physics education, his clinical practice encompasses Diagnostic Medical Physics, Nuclear Medical Physics, Therapeutic Medical Physics, Radiation Safety, MRI Safety, and Laser Safety. He is certified as a Diagnostic Medical Physicist (DABR), Nuclear Medical Physicist (DABR), Medical Laser Safety Officer (CMLSO), Magnetic Resonance Safety Officer (MRSO), Magnetic Resonance Safety Expert (MRSE),and a Health and Safety Professional (CHSP). Max is based in south Florida, and serves as the Executive Director of the Radiation Control program for the University of Miami, University of Miami Health System, and Jackson Health System.
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Luis Betancourt
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Luis Betancourt is a dedicated public servant with over 15 years of experience regulating the safe use of commercial nuclear power at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Currently serving as Chief of the Accident Analysis Branch, he leads a diverse research portfolio supporting regulatory decision-making in artificial intelligence (AI), space nuclear, and consequence analysis. In this role, he and his team spearheaded the first NRC AI Strategic Plan, opening the pathway for the safe use of new technologies. He also supports the agency in advancing the use of Responsible AI to drive its mission, manage risks, and accelerate operational outcomes.
Mr. Betancourt has previously held various positions within the agency, offering strategic advice and guidance to senior executives overseeing the operations of the nation's 94 commercial nuclear power plants and 31 research and test reactors. |
Mr. Betancourt holds an electrical engineering degree from the University of Puerto Rico and certificates in AI Leadership and AI: Implications for Business Strategy from MIT. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Maryland and received the NRC Meritorious Service Award for Equal Employment Opportunity in 2021.
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Allyce Bolger
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Allyce Bolger is an Intergovernmental Liaison Project Manager in the State Agreements and Liaison Project Branch in the Division of Materials Safety, Security, State, and Tribal Programs, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards. In this role, Allyce provides technical support on the NRC Fusion Systems rulemaking team..
Allyce joined the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in June 2011 as a participant in the Nuclear Safety Professional Development Program. Allyce worked for several years in Region I in the positions of Project Engineer, Emergency Response Coordinator, and Allegation and Enforcement Specialist. Prior to her most recent position, Allyce was a Health Physicist performing byproduct materials inspections in Region IV. In 2011, Allyce received a Bachelor's Degree in Nuclear Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. |
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Lisa Bruedigan
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Lisa Bruedigan is the Director of the Radiation Section of the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). Lisa brings over 42 years of experience in various disciplines in the radiation field, starting as a radiological technologist. Lisa has been with DSHS for 27 years, starting as an X-ray Inspector, where she developed an X-ray training program. Lisa then moved into management over the X-ray Inspectors, then all radiation inspections and incident investigations before taking a position over all of Surveillance for DSHS Regulatory Services. This included food and drugs, milk, asbestos, tanning, and tattoo inspections across the state. In 2022, Lisa became the Radiation Section Director when the Division realigned into a bureau-type structure, where she is now over all aspects of radiation licensing and registration, inspections, incident investigations, environmental monitoring, and radiological emergency response.
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Lisa has a bachelor’s degree in health care administration and is a member of the OAS and the CRCPD, where she is in her third term on the CRCPD Board of Directors. Lisa is the Chair of CRCPD. Lisa has worked on projects with the FDA, CDC, EPA, Israel Atomic Energy Agency, and the IAEA. She has been an invited speaker at the IAEA and the World Institute of Nuclear Security and was an instructor for the IAEA Regional Training Course on Authorized Inspection of Linear Accelerators. Lisa was elected to the National Council of Radiation Protection in 2024.
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Mary Casto
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Mary is a materials inspector in the NRC’s Region 3 office which covers the Midwest. She loves learning about unique ways people use radioactive materials and interacting with the public. Mary has completed developmental assignments around the NRC in emergency preparedness licensing, materials inspection, environmental review, and the agreement state branch. Mary grew to love California while living there, most recently as an AmeriCorps member, and is glad to be back! |
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Anthony Chu
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Anthony Chu serves as the Chief of the Radiation Safety and Environmental Management Division for the California Department of Public Health. In this capacity, Anthony oversees California’s radiation safety and its various environmental health programs as well as the State’s drinking water chemistry and radiochemistry laboratory. Additionally, Anthony also serves on the California Water Quality Monitoring Council, providing public health expertise to better integrate, coordinate, and manage water quality throughout California’s environmental and natural resources agencies.
Prior to this, Anthony served as the chief of the environmental management branch for the California Department of Water Resources where he directed the environmental management program for the State Water Project - California and one of the world’s largest water and power systems. |
Prior to Water Resources, Anthony served as the environmental manager for a county environmental management department in California where he managed the hazardous materials/hazardous waste and environmental planning programs. Prior to joining County government, Anthony worked in the environmental engineering industry focusing on the remediation of Department of Defense contaminated sites. Anthony received his undergraduate degrees in Biology and Economics and a graduate degree in Environmental Management.
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Daniel Clark
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Daniel Clark is a Senior Materials Scientist with Type One Energy Group where he leads the breeder blanket/first wall and tritium fuel cycle design activities. He has a background in nuclear engineering with a specialization in materials development for nuclear systems. Before his tenure at Type One, he dedicated eight years to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Fusion Energy Science Program where he managed the Fusion Materials Research Portfolio. Notable achievements during that time include initiation of the Material Plasma Exposure eXperiment (MPEX) capital acquisition project at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, establishment of the first public-private partnership program in the Office of Science known as the Innovation Network for Fusion Energy (INFUSE), and leadership of the Fusion Prototypic Neutron Source (FPNS) initiative. He holds both a B.S and M.S. in Nuclear Engineering, from Texas A&M University and the University of Tennessee respectively
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Ashley Cockerham
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Ashley Cockerham has 19 years of experience in regulatory and compliance matters for emerging radiopharmaceuticals and radioactive medical devices. She holds a Master of Science in Jurisprudence from Seton Hall University School of Law. Ashley worked as a health physicist for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for over 10 years and now provides regulatory consulting services through her business, Mercurie Consulting, LLC.
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Keisha Cornelius
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Keisha is the Program Manager for the Radiation Section of the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). She has worked for the DEQ for 23 years. Keisha manages the section that is responsible for reviewing and inspecting radioactive materials and X-Rays licenses, investigating allegations, and responding to incidents and complaints for the State of Oklahoma. Keisha has served as an Integrated Materials Performance Evaluation Program (IMPEP) team member and is currently an IMPEP Team Leader in training. Keisha has served on several OAS/NRC/CRCPD working groups. She is currently working on an IAEA Consultancy to Revise the IAEA Specific Safety Guide: Radiation Safety in Industrial Radiography (SSG-11). The last 5 years Keisha served on the OAS Executive Board, working to increase communication and engagement within the National Materials Program.
Keisha received a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from the University of Oklahoma. |
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Shea Cotton
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Shea Cotton is the federal portfolio manager for the Offsite Source Recovery Program (OSRP) and the Domestic Transportation Security program at the Office of Radiological Security (ORS) within the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Prior to ORS, Shea was a Senior Research Associate at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies. He graduated from the University of Georgia with his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in International Policy.
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Ryan Crihfield
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Ryan Crihfield is a Health Physicist and Environmental Fellow with Tennessee’s Division of Radiological Health. Ryan has been with Tennessee for just over 13 years and has worked in Environmental Monitoring, Waste Management and on numerous other projects. In his current role he consults on many special projects across the Division’s programs on matters pertaining to licensing and x-ray, emergency preparedness, radioactive waste processing, Decommissioning funding plans, IT and database needs and more. When not at work, he can be found in a campsite with his wife and daughter or on his mountain bike somewhere in the woods, hopefully the rubber side down.
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Vincent Troy Curnutt
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Vincent Troy Curnutt is an accomplished nuclear medicine professional with over 34 years of experience. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Medicine from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Curnutt has a diverse background encompassing all aspects of nuclear medicine, nuclear pharmacy, and Positron Emission Tomography (PET), working with both low and high-energy isotopes. He has demonstrated a keen understanding of Federal, State, Pharmacy, and DOT regulations. As a founder and CEO of Advanced Isotopes of Nevada, Curnutt has been instrumental in establishing several leading radiopharmacy and imaging businesses, including Advanced Molecular PET Imaging, Advanced Robotic Dose Drawing Systems, Quantum Isotopes of Idaho, Advanced Isotopes of Nevada, and others. His responsibilities have ranged from customer development and satisfaction to regulatory compliance and radiation safety.
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He is a certified nuclear medicine technologist with a license from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. Curnutt's career has been marked by a dedication to advancing the field of nuclear medicine, ensuring precision and safety in radiopharmaceutical preparations, and fostering strong relationships with healthcare providers.
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Pascal Dumont
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Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs and Licensing at Type One Energy since summer 2023, Mr. Dumont has close to 25 years' experience in radiation protection, nuclear safety and regulatory affairs. He has held positions as Associate Director of the Radiation Protection Bureau of the Government of Canada's Department of Health in Ottawa; Canadian expert in nuclear safety at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, where he led more than 20 international missions in Europe and the Middle East; and Senior Regulatory Officer at the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. He joined General Fusion in Vancouver in 2022 before moving to Type One Energy (Oak Ridge, Tennessee). Mr. Dumont holds a Master of Science (Earth Sciences) from the University of Ottawa, Canada
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John Fassell
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John Fassell’s career started off as a counter forecaster in the US Air Force, then upgraded to weather officer for the SR-71 program in Okinawa, Japan. Then John was transferred into space physics forecasting in Omaha, NE for NASA and a variety of DOD payloads. John moved from there to the civilian world as a Health Physics Section Chief in the Nebraska Radiological Health program. John started off in charge of the Regulations, Radon, Environmental Surveillance and Emergency Response programs, then worked in X-ray inspections briefly and then as a Performance Assessment person for the Nebraska LLRW program. Once the decision was made on siting of the Nebraska LLRW Storage site, John obtained his CHP and moved to California.
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He started as an Associate HP in the Licensing Projects Unit, moved up to be that unit’s Senior HP and finally rotated through several Supervising HP positions including RAM Inspections, X-ray Inspections and Strategic Planning and Quality Assurance. For the last 14 years, John has been the RAM Inspections Supervising HP for the California radiation control program.
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Dr. Sherrie Flaherty, MHP, DC
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Sherrie Flaherty is a Senior Intergovernmental Liaison with NMSS, State Agreement and Liaison Programs Branch. Before coming to the NRC, Dr. Flaherty was the Supervisor for the Radioactive Materials Unit at the Minnesota Department of Health overseeing the Agreement State program and the use of radiation therapy in the State of Minnesota.
Dr. Flaherty was with the Radioactive Materials Unit for over 17 years, starting out as an inspector and license reviewer. Dr. Flaherty has a Master of Health Physics from the Illinois Institute of Technology and a Doctor of Chiropractic from Northwestern College of Chiropractic, along with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Bemidji State University. Her previous careers include operating her chiropractic and acupuncture clinic and teaching high school math. |
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Gary Forsee
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Gary Forsee is the Chief for the Illinois Radioactive Materials Division within the Illinois Emergency Management and Office of Homeland Security. He has worked in radioactive material regulatory programs since 2004, in areas ranging from environmental monitoring, low level radioactive waste, NORM, spent fuel & HRCQ shipment programs, radiological security and preventive missions, incident response and administrative rulemaking.
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Dr. Mirela Gavrilas, PhD
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Dr. Mirela Gavrilas has been named Executive Director for Operations, effective July 28, 2024. The EDO position is the highest-ranking NRC career position with responsibilities for overseeing the agency’s operational and administrative functions and serving as the chief operating officer. Dr. Mirela Gavrilas previously served as Director of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response. Dr. Gavrilas joined the NRC in 2004 as a Reactor System Engineer in the Office of Nuclear Reactor Research. Dr. Gavrilas occupied leadership positions of increasing responsibility in the ensuing years, including several senior management positions in the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR).
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Dr. Gavrilas served as NRR’s Deputy Office Director for Reactor Safety Programs and Mission Support, where she was recognized for her many accomplishments, including the review for the construction permit for the SHINE Medical Technologies, leading the development of the agency’s accident tolerant fuel plan, modernizing NRR’s workload management processes and metrics, and her ability to collaboratively address risks and hazards associated with complex topics. Earlier, Dr. Gavrilas served as Deputy Director, Division of Policy and Rulemaking; Deputy Director, Division of Risk Assessment; and Director, Division of Safety Systems. Dr. Gavrilas also has experience in international cooperation in severe accident phenomenology, risk assessment, fuels and safety analysis methods and is a graduate of NRC’s 2014 Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program.
Prior to joining the NRC, Dr. Gavrilas served on the University of Maryland faculty, where she led the first Nuclear Energy Agency/Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development international standard problem for computational fluid mechanics. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Maryland and a Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Prior to joining the NRC, Dr. Gavrilas served on the University of Maryland faculty, where she led the first Nuclear Energy Agency/Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development international standard problem for computational fluid mechanics. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Maryland and a Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
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Christopher Giaquinto
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Christopher Giaquinto currently works for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Environmental Radiation as a Radiation Physicist 1. He has been with the State of New Jersey for 4.5 years working within the Industrial Section performing both inspections as well as licensing. He is currently the Generally Licensed Device program lead. Chris is currently serving as co-chair for the CRCPD Working Group G-75 General Licensing Program Guideline Development Task Force.
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Becki Harisis
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Becki is the Manager of the Radiation Control Program for the State of Nebraska. Becki holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Radiation Sciences (Nuclear Medicine Technology) from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and an associate degree in radiologic technology from Southeast Community College. She has worked in the radiation field for 26 years.
Becki serves on the CRPCD board as a member-at-large and chairs the Suggested State Regulations Council. Becki also co-chairs the SSR-CC working group on NRC RATS Compatibility Tracking and serves as the CRCPD liaison to the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI). She is also an advisor to many CRCPD working groups. |
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Ben Holtzman
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Ben is the Director of New Nuclear at the Nuclear Energy Institute. He is an accomplished and results-driven nuclear professional with over 15 years of experience in a variety of regulatory, technical, and business arenas. He currently is focused on accelerating industry deployment readiness, leading supply chain development for new nuclear projects, and engaging with investors and new end-users to understand new nuclear opportunities. Ben has a B.S. in nuclear engineering, a M.S. in nuclear, plasma, & radiological engineering, and an executive M.B.A.
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Andrea R. Jones
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Andrea R. Jones is a senior licensing officer in the Export Control and Nonproliferation branch, in the Office of International Programs at the NRC. Andrea provides leadership in exports and import licensing, allegations, enforcement, and implementation of foreign policy specific to export/import licensing. She is a facilitator of nuclear safety assistance and cooperation on global nuclear interests. Her previous positions at the NRC include Nuclear Materials Inspector, Health Physicist in NRC’s Offices of Research, State and Tribal Programs, and the former Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs. Andrea holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Master of Science degree in Public Health.
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Nathaniel “Nate” Kishbaugh
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Nathaniel “Nate” Kishbaugh is the Chief of Radioactive Materials Licensing with the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH). He has been working as a license reviewer, inspector, and incident reviewer with NYSDOH since 2015. He graduated from Green Mountain College in Poultney, Vermont in 2013 with a B.S. in Biology. Currently, he serves as Co-Chair to the G-75 General Licensing Workgroup with CRCPD and has been involved in numerous workgroups and projects within NYSDOH and CRCPD throughout his time working for New York State
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Dr. Angela Leek, PhD
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Dr. Angela E. Leek is the Director of Radiological Solutions and Regulatory Affairs at SummitET®, where she leads efforts to develop radiological emergency response and regulatory solutions for federal, state, and local partners. She spent 16 years at the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, where she oversaw the radiation control program, ensuring effective radiation protection and emergency preparedness across the state. During this time, Dr. Leek served as Iowa's liaison to federal agencies, contributing to national radiation safety initiatives and policies. She earned her PhD from Iowa State University and an MS in Radiation Health Physics from Oregon State University.
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John Lubinski
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Mr. Lubinski joined the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in 1990 as a Mechanical Engineer in NMSS and also served as Senior Enforcement Specialist in the Office of Enforcement and Chief for the Inspection and Fuel Manufacturing Branches in NMSS. In 2006, Mr. Lubinski was appointed to the Senior Executive Service (SES) and served in multiple Deputy Division Director and Division Director positions in the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. In 2017, Mr. Lubinski was selected as the Deputy Director, Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response, and served in this role until his appointment as Director, NMSS, in 2019.
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Latonya Mahlahla
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Latonya Mahlahla is a Branch Chief in Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO) at the Technical Training Center in Chattanooga, TN where she manages the Specialized Technical Training and Support Branch. Latonya joined the NRC in 2009 as a Health Physicist and has worked at the TTC since 2010. Ms. Mahlahla earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Physics from Purdue University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Delaware. Prior to joining the NRC, she worked in commercial nuclear power in health physics and nuclear operations support.
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Jeffrey S. Merrifield
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The Honorable Jeffrey S. Merrifield, a former presidential appointee to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, is widely recognized as an international thought leader on nuclear power and the deployment of complex energy systems for the avoidance of carbon generation. During his three decades of involvement in the energy industry, Jeff has developed wide-ranging relationships throughout the international nuclear community that allow him to identify strategic and legal solutions for major energy and environmental matters. He is considered a leader in advanced nuclear and fusion deployment and has assisted large and developing nuclear utilities, suppliers and governments in effectively meeting their regulatory requirements and strategic objectives regarding the deployment of complex energy systems. Jeff’s well-received corporate executive experience, as well as media and public speaking capabilities, also provide a significant resource for the advocacy of common-sense and cost-effective solutions. Jeff is a partner at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP.
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Corrine Mitchell
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Corinne Mitchell, MS, CSP, has been a radiation safety professional for over 20 years in research reactor, industrial, academic, and fusion settings. She is currently the Director of Radiation Protection at CFS, leading the safe radiological design, licensing, and operations for their fusion devices. Prior to CFS, she spent 7 years as the Radiation Safety Officer at Harvard University, overseeing radiological health and safety programs across hundreds of laboratories. She has also held Senior Health Physicist roles at Yale University and Thermo Fisher Scientific, and was a Senior Reactor Operator at the University of Massachusetts Lowell Research Reactor.
Corinne is Certified as a Safety Professional (CSP) and Certified Project Manager (CPM). She earned her BS in Physics and MS in Radiological Sciences and Protection from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell. With expertise spanning many radiation fields, she is a distinguished radiation safety expert guiding CFS's critical work in fusion energy development. |
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Dr. Jacqueline Moga, PhD
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Dr. Jacqueline Moga completed her PhD in Medical Physics at the University of Wisconsin - Madison in 2011. Her research work was performed under the supervision of Dr. Larry DeWerd in the Accredited Dosimetry Calibration Lab / Medical Radiation Research Center. The focus of her dissertation was Spectroscopic Characterization of Low Energy Photon Emitting Brachytherapy Sources and Kilovoltage X-ray Beams. Since then, she has held clinical positions in Radiation Oncology Physics at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, TX and Sutter Health in Santa Cruz. She is board certified by the American Board of Radiology and a member of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine.
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Devin Mussell
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Devin is the Health Physics Lead at Helion Energy, leading the Radiation Safety Program for a first-of-a-kind fusion generator. Prior to joining Helion, he earned his formal training (BSE, MSE) from the University of Michigan's Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences Department and gained diverse practical experience as a health/medical physics consultant for West Physics. Devin looks forward to getting fusion energy on the grid by ensuring radiation safety, novel licensing, and broad education.
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OAS Board
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Chair: Keisha Cornelius (Oklahoma)
Past Chair: Steve Seeger (Tennessee) Chair-Elect: Beth Shelton (Tennessee) Secretary: David Matos (Georgia) Treasurer: Niki Minnick (Pennsylvania) NMP Co-Champion: Santiago Rodriguez (New Mexico) Director of Rulemaking: Phill Peterson (Colorado) Director of Emerging Issues & Advocacy: Sarah Sanderlin (New Jersey) Event Planner: Jo Murphy Executive Director: Kathy Modes |
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Augustinus “Auggie” Ong
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Auggie Ong has spent the past twelve years serving as the administrator for the Division of Public Health Services/Radiological Health Section, New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. In this position, Auggie is responsible for a staff of radiation protection professionals and support staff, whose duties include assessing the compliance of radioactive material licensees as well as x-ray registrants. He has provided training, consultation, and assistance to radiation protection personnel, other departmental staff, as well as serving as the Radiation Safety Officer within the New Hampshire Homeland Security Emergency Response Unified Command. Auggie is a member of the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD). He has served as the Chair to the CRCPD H-47 Committee on Nuclear Medicine, G-76 on AI and he is presently a member of the NRC T&E Working Group.
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Carter Owens
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Carter Owens graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology with a degree in Chemical Engineering. Carter began working as a Superfund Technical Assessment & Response Team (START) contractor for EPA Region 4 and spent roughly five years in that role. Duties were project manager and emergency responder with experience in oil spills, train derailments, warehouse/facility fires, abandoned plating shops, mercury spills, radiation, and other various hazardous chemical spills. Carter transitioned over to EPA Region 4 in 2019 as a Remedial Project Manager and then switched roles over to On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) in 2021. Carter is currently the lead OSC on the American Nuclear Time-Critical Removal Action being conducted in Clinton, TN. When he’s not working, he’s spending every moment he has with his daughter doing whatever activity she wants to do.
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Ronald Parsons
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Ronald Parsons is the Tennessee Radioactive Material Licensing Manager. Mr. Parsons graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a Bachelor of Science. He has worked for the Tennessee Division of Radiological Health for over 30 years and is an IMPEP Team Member for the Licensing and Sealed Source and Device Indicators.
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Catherine “Cathy” Perham
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Cathy is an OAS and CRCPD member and serves on Working Group H-47, Committee on Nuclear Medicine, chaired by Augustinus Ong (NH). Cathy’s current position is Radiation Health Physicist III, State of New Hampshire Radiological Health Section. She recently received her badge as an MQSA inspector. Cathy has a particular interest in Nuclear Medicine and Radiation Oncology as well as radiation hormesis. She has given talks on 117mSn Synovetin and 90Y RadioGel pharmaceuticals and has presented posters on patient non-compliance and reducing worker dose in PET Imaging. Cathy was a regulator for 6 years with the State of Maine Radiation Control Program and has been with the State of New Hampshire for a year and a half. Prior to this, Cathy worked as a Health Physicist for Georgetown University Hospital, Emory University, and the University of Virginia among others.
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She is a native Mainer who attended the University of South Florida for her graduate studies in Zoology and has a BS in Biology from Florida Southern College. Don’t ask why, but Cathy received an invitation to Stephen Hawking’s memorial service in London on June 15, 2018, which she attended. Cathy has won awards in poetry and short story; and has published in the Police Tactics Newsletter. She has a passel of kids and grandkids and two Cardigan Welsh Corgis.
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Phillip Peterson
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Phillip Peterson has worked with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment since 2009. Phill is the Radioactive Materials Unit Leader and manages the licensing and inspection of approximately 300 specific licensees and the registration of approximately 800 general licensees. Phill enjoys skiing and is learning if he has what it takes to be a marching band parent.
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Andrew Proffitt
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Andrew Proffitt is the Regulatory Policy Lead at Helion Energy where he leads regulatory policy development and implementation at the state, federal, and international levels. Prior to joining Helion, he worked at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for fifteen years in a wide array of roles including Branch Chief of Advanced Reactor Licensing and Senior Project Manager for Fusion. Andrew led the development of the NRC’s policy for licensing and regulating fusion energy.
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Ernesto Quiñones
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Mr. Quiñones currently serves as the Business Project Manager for the systems comprising the Integrated Source Management Portfolio (ISMP) in the Division of Materials Safety, Security, State, and Tribal Programs, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS). He also co-leads the development and implementation of data analytics tools that support workload management and regulatory decision-making in NMSS. Mr. Quiñones joined the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in 2002 as a Technical Reviewer in the High-Level Waste program in NMSS. In 2005, he transitioned to a Project Manager role and led the development and implementation of several materials security initiatives. In this capacity, Mr. Quiñones served as the technical lead for reviewing the adequacy of documents related to radioactive source security and advising Office-level management on issues related to materials security and major domestic and international cooperative efforts.
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Mr. Quiñones received a bachelor’s degree in Geology and completed graduate work in Volcanology, both at the University of Puerto Rico. Among his many hobbies and activities, his favorites are cycling, exercising, and home improvement projects.
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Cathy Ribaudo
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Cathy Ribaudo recently retired from Federal service in May 2024, having worked as a Health Physicist at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, MD from 1988 onward. She served as the Director of the NIH Division of Radiation Safety and was the NIH Radiation Safety Officer during her final 8 years there. Prior to that, she served as the Irradiator Security Manager (5 years) and Branch Chief of the Radioactive Materials Control and Analysis Branch (10 years). Cathy earned her degree in Physics from Washington & Jefferson College in PA, and received a Master’s in Radiation Science from Georgetown University. Aside from two summer internships with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, her entire career was spent at the NIH’s Division of Radiation Safety where she progressed from an entry level field health physicist to the position of RSO.
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Cathy has been a contributing member of the Health Physics Society and has presented multiple talks and posters at the HPS annual meetings and at other conferences throughout her career. She lives in Rockville, MD with her husband Randy and together they have raised 4 kids to productive adulthood.
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Santiago Rodriguez
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Mr. Rodriguez has been the Radiation Control Bureau Chief for the state of New Mexico for over a decade and has worked for the Radiation Control Bureau for nearly two decades. He represents the Agreement States as the National Materials Program Co-Champion. In addition, he has a degree in Environmental Science and master’s course work in Business Administration. Santiago has worked in a cytology, histology, and medical laboratory, as a radiochemist, teacher, Director of Education, toxicologist, as a radioactive materials inspector, license reviewer, most recently as the Bureau Chief of the Radiation Control Bureau. “Working with the Environment Department as a public servant is something I really enjoy and would consider my passion”.
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Lizette Roldán-Otero, PhD
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Dr. Lizette Roldán-Otero serves as the Materials Inspection Branch Chief for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). She joined the NRC in 2006. She is a qualified materials license reviewer and inspector. She is a team leader for IMPEPs. She has served as an instructor for the licensing and inspection course at NRC’s Technical Training Center. Most recently she served as the acting Deputy Director for the Division of Radiological Safety and Security.
Prior to joining the NRC, Lisey received a doctorate degree in Atmospheric Sciences from Howard University. She also received a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Puerto Rico. |
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Dr. Jesus Romero, PhD
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Jesus Romero is the Director of Artificial Intelligence at TAE Technologies Inc, where he leads the development of advanced AI systems to accelerate the path to commercial fusion energy. With over 30 years of experience in fusion science and a proven track record of advanced plasma control and data analysis, Dr. Romero is a leading expert in the field. His team has developed groundbreaking AI solutions, including a steady-state plasma control system and a large-scale Bayesian data analysis platform. Jesus Romero holds a Ph.D. in physics by UNED University in Spain.
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Yasmine Saboui
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Yasmine Saboui has a master’s degree in nuclear engineering and 12+ years of industry experience. She previously worked as a process engineer at Framatome and as target and operations engineer at TRIUMF. She is a subject matter expert in radiopharmaceutical process engineering, facility design, and health physics. Yasmine offers consulting services to the radiopharmaceutical industry through her business, Targeted Design Solutions.
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Amber L. Schmidt
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Amber L. Schmidt began her career as a Radiochemist at the Kansas Health and Environmental Laboratories in Topeka, KS in July 2019. Currently, Amber is a Health Physicist with the Kansas Radiation Control Program (RCP). She has worked for the RCP since November of 2021. Her duties include license writing, license review, compliance inspections, and SOP writing, to name a few. Amber has a BS in Chemistry and a BS in Business Administration from Bethel College in Kansas (2018). Her technical skills are regularly sought out by her colleagues and supervisor.
She enjoys spending time with her partner, and their two cats and dog. Her evenings are spent volunteering at a local fiber arts shop, where she teaches knitting and hosts community stitching events. |
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Beth Shelton
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Beth Shelton is the current Director for the Tennessee Division of Radiological Health. She has been with the State of Tennessee for 24 years working in all sections of the Division, including oversight of regulation compatibility and development, inspection of Division licensees and managing the Division’s radioactive material licensing program. Beth has served as an Integrated Materials Performance Evaluation Program (IMPEP) team member and is currently an IMPEP team leader in training. She has also served on the Executive Board of the Organization of Agreement States as Treasurer for two terms and is currently the Chair-Elect (Chair after OAS). Beth holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology and Chemistry from Middle Tennessee State University. She also holds a Master of Professional Studies Degree in Strategic Leadership as well as a certification in Lean Management from Middle Tennessee State University. She is a member of both OAS and CRCPD.
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Jill Shepherd
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Jill Shepherd is the branch chief for the Materials Rulemaking and Project Management Branch in the Office of Nuclear Materials Safety and Safeguards at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Ms. Shepherd’s branch is responsible for managing rulemakings that impact nuclear materials licensees. Prior to joining the NRC, Ms. Shepherd worked for the U.S. Department of Commerce where she held several positions with increasing responsibility in the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). Ms. Shepherd joined the Department of Commerce in 2005 as a Presidential Management Fellow. She has a Master’s degree in International Relations and U.S. Foreign Policy from American University and her Bachelor’s degree in History and Political Science from the University of Memphis. She currently resides in Maryland with her family and two spoiled dachshunds.
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Megan L. Shober
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Since 2003, Ms. Shober has been working for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, where she is currently the Supervisor of the Agreement State program. Ms. Shober is a subject matter expert on the domestic production of molybdenum-99, accelerator production of actinium-225, and the regulatory oversight of fusion devices. Ms. Shober is the current Agreement State member of NRC’s Advisory Committee on the Medical Uses of Isotopes, and she recently read a really good book about bogs and swamps. Ms. Shober holds a Bachelor's degree in Geology from the College of Wooster, in Ohio, and a Master's degree in Geophysics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
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Michael J. Snee
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Michael Snee was the Administrator of the Ohio Agreement State Program until his retirement from state service in July 2023. Mike joined the CRCPD staff as a Technical Assistant in January 2024. His duties include working on the disused sources programs, both the Source Collection and Threat Reduction (SCATR) Program and the Orphan Source Program. He provides technical assistance to the users of the Department of Transportation’s two Special Permits issued to CRCPD.
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Sarah Spence
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Sarah Spence is a Health Physicist on the Medical Radiation Safety Team at NRC Headquarters within the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards. Sarah has been with the NRC since early 2023. In that time, she has developed licensing guidance for emerging medical technologies and served on the extravasations rulemaking working group. Prior to her time at the NRC, Sarah worked as a health physicist for medical broad scope licensees in New Jersey and New York City.
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Cindy Tomlinson
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Cindy Tomlinson is the Senior Patient Safety and Regulatory Affairs Manager at ASTRO where she is responsible for monitoring the NRC, the FDA and CMS’s Quality Payment Program. Cindy has more than 20 years of experience working for health care trade associations and specialty societies. She holds an MPP from Johns Hopkins University and a BA in History from New York University.
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Jason vonEhr
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Jason vonEhr is a Senior Health Physicist in NRC Region I, Division of Radiological Safety and Security, Medical and Licensing Assistance Branch. Jason has been with the NRC within the materials program for just over ten years and has worked for NRC Regions I and IV, performing both materials licensing and inspection oversight. Jason has provided project management to the NRC’s Regional reciprocity program, audited and prepared the Region for IMPEP, and is preparing to guide a large federal agency to become the fourth Master Materials Licensee and the first approved by the NRC for over 20 years.
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Kyle Walton
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Kyle Walton has been working for the Wisconsin Agreement State Program for 11 years. His work includes licensing, inspection, and emergency response roles. Kyle has a bachelor’s of science degree in Nuclear Engineering from the Missouri University of Science and Technology.
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Melvin Weatherly
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Melvin is a Lead Health Physicist with the Washington State Dept of Health, specializing in fusion and radiation therapy regulation. He has a MS in Applied Physics from the University of Washington.If you’re a Star Trek fan, you’re in good company, because it’s Melvin’s favorite!
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Mike Welling
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Mike is currently the Radiation Safety Officer at the University of Virginia where he has worked since 2016. Prior to that, he was the Radioactive Materials Program Director for the Virginia Department of Health since 2006. He worked in the Wisconsin Radioactive Materials Program for 5 years prior to Virgina. Mike was a Nuclear Electricians Mate in the US Navy for 6 years.
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Duncan White
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Duncan White joined the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in 1991 and currently serves as a Senior Health Physicist in the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards. Mr. White’s current activities include NRC’s National Materials Program Champion, co-Chair for the Standing Committee on Compatibility, technical lead for the development of regulations and guidance for fusion machines, and the Connecticut, Indiana, and Wyoming Agreement applications.
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Kevin Williams
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Kevin Williams serves as the Director, Division of Materials Safety, Security, State, and Tribal Programs, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS).
Mr. Williams joined the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in September 2002, as a technical reviewer in the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Division of Inspection and Program Management. In 2004, he transitioned to a technical reviewer position in the Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR), Division of Preparedness and Response, and subsequently progressed through positions of increased responsibility. Mr. Williams has also successfully completed assignments as the acting Chief, Spent Fuel Storage and Transportation Branch, NMSS; Chief, New Reactor Licensing Branch, NSIR; Acting Deputy Director, Division of Preparedness and Response, NSIR; Director, Program Management, Policy Development and Analysis, NSIR; Acting Deputy Director, Division of Nuclear Materials Safety, Region IV; and Acting Deputy Controller, Office of the Chief Financial Officer. |
In June 2017, Mr. Williams joined the Senior Executive Service (SES) in the position of Deputy Director, MSST/NMSS and was appointed to his current position in August 2020.
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Mark Yeager
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Mr. Yeager has over 40 years’ experience in radioactive material regulatory compliance and radioactive waste management. While an employee of the state of South Carolina's the former Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) Radiological Laboratory and Agreement State Program, his responsibilities included radiological environmental monitoring, analytical services, licensing and inspections of state radioactive material licensees, LLRW license management, radiological decommissioning projects, regulatory enforcement actions, technical assistance, providing FNF field team training, IMPEP Team member, homeland security and radiological incident management. Of all his job functions, his favorite was the occasional Friday, 4:45 PM (and always seemingly prior to a three-day weekend) call that usually involved a mystery source, scale alarm, some other random unknown, or media driven event.
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There was always great satisfaction in putting someone at ease by providing a timely response and quick resolution of the matter for a coworker, distressed licensee, or member of the public. Currently, he is employed by Secured Transportation Services, Buford, GA as a regulatory affairs consultant. He has been a subcontractor for the Oak Ridge National Laboratory since 2019 and serves as the government and NGO liaison for the Transportation Security Unified Stakeholders Group (TSUSG). He remains an affiliate member of the CRCPD and was a member of, past chairperson and currently serves as an advisor to the CRCPD E-5 Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (1986 -2024).