NRC NEWS

 U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 

 Office of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200

 Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 E-mail: opa@nrc.gov 

Web Site: http://www.nrc.gov

 

No: 06-090 July 1, 2006

DR. DALE KLEIN SWORN IN AS NRC CHAIRMAN

Dr. Dale E. Klein, designated by President Bush as chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory

Commission (NRC), was sworn in Saturday in a private ceremony at the NRC headquarters in

Rockville, Md. 

As a Commissioner, Klein will serve a five-year term on the NRC.

“As the NRC faces the challenges of the coming years, I intend to do all I can to ensure the

safety and security of the American public as the NRC does the critical job of overseeing the

operations of nuclear reactors, the use of nuclear materials, and effectively reviewing expected

applications for new reactors in a timely manner,” Klein said.

“I consider regulatory stability a crucial element in ensuring that our work is done in a timely

manner,” added Klein, who holds a doctorate in nuclear engineering.

Klein, 58, previously served as Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Nuclear and Chemical

and Biological Defense Programs, a position he assumed Nov. 15, 2001.

Prior to his appointment by President Bush, Klein was the Vice-Chancellor for Special

Engineering Programs at The University of Texas System while also serving as a professor in the

Department of Mechanical Engineering (Nuclear Program) at The University of Texas at Austin. Klein

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. 

Klein held other positions during his tenure at The University of Texas at Austin where he held

a Bob R. Dorsey Endowed Professorship: 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 University of Texas System, 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, 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, Klein received over $50 million in research funding,

equipment and educational support. He has published over 100 technical papers and reports, and coedited 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. 

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