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March 26, 2008
Spring 2008 Commencement Speaker Announced
Dale E. Klein, chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to give commencement address.
Written by Catherine Page
Before joining the NRC, Klein served as the assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Nuclear and Chemical and Biological Defense Programs under President George W. Bush.
Dale E. Klein, chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), will be the speaker for commencement ceremonies at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. May 9 at the United Spirit Arena.
Klein became chairman of the NRC on July 1, 2006. The NRC is an independent agency that enables the nation to safely use radioactive materials for beneficial civilian purposes while ensuring that people and the environment are protected. The NRC regulates commercial nuclear power plants and other uses of nuclear materials, such as in nuclear medicine. As chairman, Klein has ultimate authority for all NRC functions pertaining to any emergency involving an NRC licensee.
Before joining the NRC, Klein served as the assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Nuclear and Chemical and Biological Defense Programs. He was appointed by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the Senate on Nov. 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 defense.
Previously, 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, 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.
For more detailed information on the commencement ceremonies, visit the 2008 Commencement Ceremonies Web site.
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