2018 WILLIAM A. McADAMS OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD

Presented to GOVIND RAO at the 63rd Annual Meeting of the Health Physics Society, Cleveland, Ohio, July 14-18, 2018

2017 WILLIAM A. McADAMS OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD

Presented to CHARLES A. "GUS" POTTER at the 62nd Annual Meeting of the Health Physics Society, Raleigh, North Carolina, July 9-13, 2017

(click here for acceptance remarks)

It is a pleasure and an honor to announce Charles A. "Gus" Potter as the recipient of the 2017 McAdams Award.

This award was established in 1989 and is presented annually by the American Board of Health Physics (ABHP) and the American Academy of Health Physics to honor a certified health physicist who has made significant contributions toward the advancement of professionalism in health physics and to the certification process.

Gus grew up in Bridgewater, New Jersey. He received his undergraduate degree in health physics from Trenton State College in 1986 and his graduate degrees in radiological sciences and protection from the University of Massachusetts Lowell in 1992 and 2000. He has over 25 years of experience at Sandia National Laboratories and is globally recognized as an expert in the fields of internal dosimetry, risk assessment, and radiation effects modeling.

Gus earned this award for three reasons. First, his technical achievements span several different areas in health physics. He is a globally recognized expert in internal dosimetry. To support this statement, I offer the fact that he is the only person in the history of the Health Physics Journal to be the sole author of an entire monthly edition! The topic of the edition was internal dosimetry applications of International Commission on Radiological Protection models.

Second, he has done all of his health physics work in service to our country. He volunteers on a national-level nuclear crisis action team. This prestigious team has only the best scientists, engineers, technicians to serve and support government and military customers. He also represents the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration at the International Atomic Energy Agency as an expert on radioactive materials and malicious use of these materials.

Last, Gus is a model leader of the Health Physics Society (HPS) and the ABHP. He has held many positions in the Society and on the board, including leading both certification exam panels and chairing the ABHP. He has served the ABHP for more than 10 years. For the HPS, he has offered short courses, helped as a session chair during meetings, and served on the Membership Committee. He is also an HPS fellow.

At Sandia National Laboratories, Gus is a "Distinguished Member of Staff"—a position held by less than 5% of the professional staff at the labs!

Gus is a devoted father to a son and a daughter and a wonderful husband to another outstanding health physicist, Michelle Potter.

Gus, congratulations on your award and thank you again for supporting the certification process, the HPS, and the ABHP.

William Rhodes, Vice-Chair ABHP

2016 WILLIAM A. McADAMS OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD

Presented to JAMES E. TARPINIAN at the 61st Annual Meeting of the Health Physics Society, Spokane, Washington, July 17-21, 2016

(click here for acceptance remarks)

It is an honor and privilege to announce James E. (Jim) Tarpinian as the 2016 McAdams award winner. The award was established in 1989 and is presented annually by the ABHP and AAHP to honor a certified health physicist who has made a significant contribution toward the advancement of professionalism in health physics and to the certification process.

Jim received his undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of Connecticut and his graduate degree in Radiological Sciences and Protection from the University of Lowell (now UMass Lowell). He has over 36 y of experience in industry and is nationally recognized as a highly experienced environmental, safety and health professional with demonstrated solid leadership in occupational safety and health management, health physics, environmental remediation, and waste management.

His roles and experience have been diverse, ranging from supervising radiological waste engineering activities and managing Radiological Engineering at Three Mile Island in the 1980s to Managing Safety, Health, and Quality for Bechtel at a variety of projects in the 1990s. Since 2000, he has held a variety of prestigious positions such as Director, ESHQ, Brookhaven National Laboratory; Vice President of Corporate Environmental Safety and Health at Battelle; and Director of Environmental Safety, Health and Quality at the SLAC National Accelerator. In 2009, he founded his own consulting company where he continues to assist clients in establishing and maintaining safe and productive ES&H programs.

A member of the Health Physics Society since 1976, Jim has served in a variety of positions, such as Nominating Committee Member, Treasurer of the Power Reactor Section, Strategic Planning Committee, Director of the Decommissioning Section, Academic Education Committee, and Director from 1999 to 2002. An HPS Fellow since 2002, he has also served on other national and international committees that support our field.

He has served the Academy of Health Physics and the ABHP in several ways, including serving on and chairing the Power Reactor Certification Panel from 1989–1993, and serving as Director, Secretary, Vice Chair, and Chair of the Board from 2005–2009. He has also served as Director and President of the Academy.

Over the years, Jim has received other prestigious awards for his work, including the Elda E. Anderson award in 1991 and the Joyce P. Davis Award in 2004.

Thank you, Jim, for your support of the ABHP and the certification process and congratulations on receiving the 2016 McAdams award!

Jay P. Tarzia, Vice-Chair ABHP

2015 WILLIAM A. McADAMS OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD

Presented to NORA NICHOLSON at the 60th Annual Meeting of the Health Physics Society, Indianapolis, Indiana, July 12-16, 2015

(click here for acceptance remarks)

The winner of the 2015 William A. McAdams Award was Nora Nicholson, a Health Physicist III for Dominion Generation at the North Anna Power Station in Mineral, VA. She received her undergraduate degree with distinction from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) in Biology with a Health Physics option and a minor in chemistry. She also received a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Health Physics Fellowship and completed her Master of Science in Radiation Science degree with honors at Rutgers University.

Nora began her health physics career as a radiation specialist for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in Region III. She then worked for Bartlett Nuclear at Nine Mile Point before joining Virginia Power as a Staff Health Physicist at the North Anna Power Station in Mineral, VA. Since joining North Anna, she has progressed in technical and supervisory areas and has taken on additional programs and responsibilities. These have included managing health physics program changes for the exposure management system replacement and implementation at the four Dominion sites; conducting assessments and observations of station performance improvement in the health physics, chemistry, training, emergency preparedness, security, and corrective action programs; and also serving as a National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) Technical Director for the commercial reactor dosimetry program.

Nora was also assigned as a Senior Project Manager to NUMARC/NEI. She managed dosimetry projects that included hot particles, Committed Effective Dose Equivalent, and electronic dosimetry. She coordinated comments from the industry and provided input to regulators' inquiries. She also reviewed and evaluated technical and research reports related to these projects.

She was initially certified in the practice of health physics in 1991 and joined the American Board of Health Physics (ABHP) Part 1 Panel of Examiners from 1993-1997. She then served on the Part 2 Panel of Examiners from 1997-2001.

When a Part 2 panel member was unable to participate, Nora graciously stepped in from 2003-2004 and volunteered to complete the term. She joined the ABHP as a Board Member from 2006-2011 and served as Secretary in 2009 and Vice Chair in 2010.

When the Board lost a member in 2012 due to a sudden passing, Nora returned to the Board to complete his term. She guided us through once again in 2013, serving as Chair.

She continues to serve as the liaison between the ABHP and our accrediting body, the CESB.

Nora exemplifies the outstanding service to the ABHP that symbolizes the McAdams Award. Congratulations, Nora!

Andy Miller, Vice-Chair ABHP

2014 WILLIAM A. McADAMS OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD

Presented posthumously to LESTER K. ALDRICH II at the 59th Annual Meeting of the Health Physics Society, Baltimore, Maryland, July 13-17, 2014

In memory of his sustained and outstanding services to the American Board of Health Physics (ABHP) and the American Academy of Health Physics (AAHP), Lester Aldrich is posthumously awarded the William A. McAdams Outstanding Service Award for 2014. His daughters, Ann Aldrich Lambel and Linda Aldrich Urias, accepted the award on his behalf. The award was established in 1989 and is presented annually by the ABHP and AAHP to honor a certified health physicist who has made a significant contribution toward the advancement of professionalism in health physics and to the certification process.

Les was lost to the profession late in 2006 following a career that spanned more than 22 y in health physics, primarily at Hanford. In conferring the award as a memorialization, the committee noted Les' enduring dedication and service to the profession of health physics over many years. Les served as a Director of the AAHP from 2002 through 2004, as well as serving both as an ABHP Part II Exam Panel member and as Part I Exam Panel Chair.

Les received his certification in 1982. Perhaps his most enduring and least visible contribution to the profession was his involvement in the Continuing Education Committee of the AAHP. During the formative years of the Academy, Les was instrumental in recruiting, establishing, and promoting the full-day continuing education programs sponsored by the Academy in conjunction with Health Physics Society meetings, including the diversity of sub-topics, the quality of training materials, and the level of instructor expertise that we have since come to take for granted. Les, who was outspoken, opinionated, and occasionally contentious as a health physicist, was instrumental in the early integration of the Academy's continuing education efforts with those of the larger Health Physics Society professional enrichment programs, a teaming that appears seamless today but only because of the teamwork and finesse that Les and other committee members expended.

Les' volunteer activities were by no means restricted to the ABHP and AAHP, as he was active in his church and many organizations outside the profession. The Boy Scouts of America awarded Les its prestigious Silver Beaver Award, recognizing him as one of the Scout leaders who have made an impact on the lives of youth through service given to the local Boy Scout Council. Those of us who were privileged to be mentored by Les as radiation protection professionals can readily appreciate that his scouting involvement positively impacted many young men. Additionally, Les was active in MENSA, the NRA, the GOP, Gideons International, and Walk-to-Emmaus.

Les held a Master of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering from North Carolina State University, where he coached all of the university rifle teams. The NCSU rifle team was ranked as the number one non-scholarship college rifle team in the nation during several years under Les' leadership.

At the time of the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, Les' professional responsibilities at Hanford included oversight of health physics technical support to the Hanford N Reactor. Up until that time, this USDOE facility had been operational as a "dual purpose" graphite moderated reactor providing both DOE mission support and power to the Bonneville Power Administration grid. Those of us who worked for Les remember that he had strong feelings about the value and viability of the N Reactor, but he calmly insisted that we continue to focus on technically sound radiation protection practices and ignore the media and bureaucratic "fallout" of the Chernobyl event as it reflected on the N Reactor's future (and its ultimate demise).

His many years of sustained and dedicated service to the ABHP and the health physics community at large make Les deserving of our recognition and memorialization. With this award, Lester K. Aldrich II is added to an elite list of 25 previous recipients. It is with a mixture of pleasure for his mentoring and sadness from his loss to us that we present the William A. McAdams Outstanding Service Award for 2014 in memory of Les Aldrich.

Patrick J. LaFrate, Vice-Chair ABHP

2013 WILLIAM A. McADAMS OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD

Presented to KENT N. LAMBERT at the 58th Annual Meeting of the Health Physics Society, Madison, Wisconsin, July 7-11, 2013

(click here for acceptance remarks)

For sustained and outstanding services to the American Board of Health Physics (ABHP) and the American Academy of Health Physics (AAHP), Kent Lambert is awarded the William A. McAdams Outstanding Service Award for 2013. The award was established in 1989 and is presented annually by the ABHP and AAHP to honor a certified health physicist who has made a significant contribution toward the advancement of professionalism in health physics and to the certification process.

In conferring the award, the committee noted Kent's dedication to the profession of health physics for 34 years, serving as board member to the HPS and ABHP, as ABHP Board Chair, and as Panel Chair for ABHP Exam Part I. Currently Kent is implementing solid radiation safety programs at several academic and medical institutions. He continues to provide his service to various committees both inside and outside the Health Physics Society and provides mentoring to new health physicists. Kent has a keen intellect that provides a critical review to radiation safety practices and policies. He never hesitates to stand up for his beliefs and treats those with whom he associates with the utmost professional respect.

Kent received his certification in 1990. Beginning in 1999, his service to the ABHP began, and he has ever since contributed to the certification process in one capacity or another. He served as a Part I Panel member from 1999 to 2003, chairing the panel in 2002. During his term as past-chair, he ran a passing point workshop and then critically evaluated the methodology used. This set in motion an overhaul in the method of setting the Part I passing point.

He was elected to the ABHP Board in 2007 and served as vice-chair, parliamentarian (two terms), and chair. During his terms as parliamentarian, he completed a comprehensive review of the policy and procedure manuals and offered major revisions to each. While chairing the Board, Kent made substantive changes to the application forms, allowing them to be completed electronically. He also performed much of the Part II exam data analysis and report preparation.

Kent served as the ABHP representative to the Council of Engineering & Scientific Specialty Boards (CESB) from 2010-2011. He created a mechanism to allow an appointed individual to serve on the CESB to afford more continuity of ABHP representation and increase its influence. Kent currently serves as the alternate to the current ABHP representative to the CESB.

Even after ending his official capacity on the ABHP, he helps get the Part I exam started and has assisted the new Chair. Kent even volunteered for the dreaded task of grading Part II exams. Currently, he is the co-Chair for the International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA) working group on certification programs tasked with preparing guidance documents to assist IRPA associate societies in developing certification programs in their countries.

Kent's volunteer activities have not been restricted to the ABHP. Kent became a Fellow Member of the Health Physics Society in 2010 and served on its Board of Directors from 1998-2001, as HPS Treasurer from 2002-2004, as parliamentarian from 2009-2011, and on numerous committees. At the local level, Kent has served as president for the Delaware Valley Society for Radiation Safety on two separate occasions.

Kent holds a Master of Science degree in Radiation Sciences from Rutgers University and a Bachelors of Science Degree in Radiation Protection Engineering from Texas A&M. Kent is currently the Director of Radiation Safety and Radiation Safety Officer at Drexel University and is responsible for the radiation safety programs at Drexel University, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, and Shriners Hospitals for Children Philadelphia. For many years, he was the consulting radiation safety officer for Hahnemann University Hospital, the Medical College of Pennsylvania, and Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Philadelphia, and provided consulting health physics services to five Tenet hospitals in Philadelphia. Previously Kent worked at Temple and Princeton universities.

His many years of sustained and dedicated service to the ABHP and the health physics community at large make him fully deserving of recognition and applause. With this award, Kent joins an elite group of 24 previous recipients. It is with great pleasure that I present the William A. McAdams Outstanding Service Award for 2013 to Kent Lambert.

Patrick J. LaFrate, Vice-Chair ABHP

2012 WILLIAM A. McADAMS OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD

Presented to ROBERT N. CHERRY, JR. at the 57th Annual Meeting of the Health Physics Society, Sacramento, California, July 22-26, 2012

(click here for acceptance photo)

For sustained and outstanding services to the American Board of Health Physics (ABHP) and the American Academy of Health Physics (AAHP), Robert ("Bob") N. Cherry is awarded the William A. McAdams Outstanding Service Award for 2012.

The award was established in 1989 and is presented annually by the ABHP and AAHP to honor a certified health physicist who has made a significant contribution toward the advancement of professionalism in health physics and to the certification process. In conferring the award, the committee noted Bob's longstanding service to the ABHP, ranging from being a Panel II member to providing expert guidance as a "Wise Person" reviewer. A stickler for details, his meticulous approach in dissecting an exam and his in-depth reviews have transformed many an exam into a high-quality professional product consistent with the high standards set by the ABHP.

Bob received his certification in 1981 and has ever since contributed to the ABHP in one capacity or another. He served as a Panel II member from 1991 to 1993. He became the Panel II Vice-Chair in 1994 and the Chair in 1995. He was elected to the ABHP Board in 2000 and served as a member until 2004. During 20005-2006, he was the ABHP liaison to the Council of Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards (CESB). His tenure as a Board member is filled with anecdotal evidence of his drive toward the advancement of professionalism in health physics and the certification process. His colleagues have expressed deep appreciation for his vigilance and attention to detail. Subsequent to Board membership, Bob has continued to serve the ABHP as a "Wise Person" reviewer. The Board routinely selects three health physics experts not directly connected with the exam development process to conduct a final review of the Part II exam. The value of this review cannot be understated, and Bob's contribution to this process is nothing short of monumental.

Bob's volunteer activities have not been restricted to the ABHP. He has served in elected positions at national and local professional societies. He was the driving force behind the formation of the Military Health Physics Section of the HPS. He recently completed 3 years of service on the Health Physics Society Board of Directors and Executive Board as Secretary-elect and then as Secretary. He became a Fellow of the Health Physics Society (HPS) in June 2006.

Bob holds a Ph.D. in Nuclear Physics from the University of Michigan. Spanning over 30 years, his career has taken him from a Health Physics Officer at the Brooke Army Medical Center in Texas to his current position as Radiation Safety Staff Officer at the HQ, U.S. Army Installation Management Command in San Antonio, TX. In between, he has been an Associate Professor of Physics, U.S. Military Academy in West Point, NY; Radiation Protection Safety Officer, U.S. Army Health Services Command, Fort Sam Houston, TX; Chief of the Microwave Division and subsequently Director of Radiation and Entomological Sciences at the U.S. Army Environmental Hygiene Agency, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD; Army Radiation Safety Officer, U.S. Army Safety Office, Washington, DC; Senior Health Physicist, Dade Moeller and Associates, Inc.; Director of the center for Radiological Emergency Preparation, Prevention, and Response, U.S. EPA, Washington, DC; and Senior Health Physicist, AECOM, Brooks City-Base, TX.

In addition to combat in Vietnam, his military assignments have included the Enewetak radiological cleanup. As a colonel working at Headquarters, Department of the Army, in the Pentagon, his was the first to hold the title and position of Army Radiation Safety Officer and virtually single-handedly designed and implemented the first comprehensive Army-wide radiation safety program. He became a member of the U.S. Army Field Artillery Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame in 1995.

Bob has many publications and presentations. Notably, his was the chapter editor and author of three articles in the ionizing radiation safety chapter in the current edition of the International Labor Organization's Encyclopedia of Occupational safety and Health and the author of the U.S. Army's regulation on Army Radiation Safety. He is currently an associate editor for Operating Health Physics.

His many years of sustained and dedicated service to the ABHP and the health physics community at large make him fully deserving of recognition and applause. With this award, Bob joins an elite group of 23 previous recipients. It is with great pleasure that I present the William A. McAdams Outstanding Service Award for 2012 to Robert N. Cherry.

Govind Rao, Vice-Chair ABHP