DALE KLEIN

Dr Dale E Klein was sworn into the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in July 2006. He was appointed Chairman by President George W Bush and served in that role from 1 July 2006 to 13 May 2009. His is currently serving as a Commissioner.

Before joining the NRC, Dr Klein served as the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Defense Programs. He was appointed to this position by President George W Bush and confirmed by the Senate on November 8, 2001. In this position, he served as the principal staff assistant and advisor to the Secretary of Defense, Deputy Secretary of Defense, and the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology for all policy and planning matters related to nuclear weapons and nuclear, chemical, and biological defence.

Previously, Dr Klein served as the Vice-Chancellor for Special Engineering Programs at the University of Texas System and as a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering (Nuclear Program) at the University of Texas at Austin. During his tenure at the university, Dr Klein was 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.

Honours and awards Dr Klein has received include Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Nuclear Society, the Joe J King Professional Engineering Achievement Award, Engineer of the Year for the State of Texas, the University of Missouri Faculty-Alumni Award, and the University of Missouri Honor Award for Distinguished Service in Engineering.

A native of Missouri, Dr Klein holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in mechanical engineering and a doctorate in nuclear engineering, all from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He has published more than 100 technical papers and reports, and co-edited one book.

He has made more than 300 presentations on energy and has written numerous technical editorials on energy issues that have been published in major newspapers throughout the United States.