WILLIAM J. RAYMOND SELECTED AS FIRST RECIPIENT OF NRC 

EDWARD MCGAFFIGAN JR. PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD 

 The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has selected William J. 

Raymond, senior resident inspector at the Seabrook Nuclear Power Station, 

as the first recipient of the prestigious Edward McGaffigan Jr. Public 

Service Award. The Commission established the award to honor the 

memory of Commissioner McGaffigan, who dedicated his career to public 

service, and to recognize others who demonstrate similar commitment. 

 “Bill Raymond’s contributions to nuclear safety demonstrate the 

highest levels of commitment to public service, integrity, professional 

dedication and moral courage,” said NRC Chairman Dale Klein. “He truly reflects the spirit of 

public service Ed McGaffigan represented. His work as a mentor of new inspectors has helped 

train a new generation of NRC employees committed to protecting people and the environment.” 

 Recommended to be the first recipient of the prestigious Commission-level award by his 

peers and supervisors, Raymond was selected by the Commission after a rigorous review of a 

number of highly talented nominees with deep commitment to public service. 

Raymond began his NRC career in 1975 as a reactor engineer in the NRC’s Region I 

Office in King of Prussia, Pa. He was a member of the NRC’s Onsite Support Group following 

the accident at Three Mile Island in 1979. He has been an inspector at half a dozen nuclear 

plants, mostly in the New England area, including Vermont Yankee in Vernon, Vt., and Indian 

Point 2 in Buchanan, N.Y. He also worked in the regional office as a senior reactor engineer in 

the Division of Reactor Safety. In 1985 and in 2002, Raymond was awarded the NRC 

Meritorious Service Award for his performance as a resident inspector. He has been an 

exceptional role model in training new inspectors to be top-notch regulators. 

 Prior to joining the NRC, Raymond worked for Babcock and Wilcox Company as a lead 

startup engineer at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Plant near Harrisburg, Pa., and as a startup 

engineer at the Oconee Nuclear Plant near Seneca, S.C. He also worked as a reactor 

operator/research associate at Virginia Tech. He earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from 

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No. 09-019 January 27, 2009
Fairfield University (Fairfield, Conn.), and a master’s in nuclear science and engineering from 

Virginia Tech. He also attended the graduate liberal studies program at Wesleyan College in 

Conn. 

The Commission will present the award to Raymond at the annual Awards Ceremony to 

be held April 9. 

 McGaffigan – the longest-serving NRC Commissioner – was on the Commission for 11 

years when he died Sept. 2, 2007. 

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