[cdn-nucl-l] Dr. Nils J. Diaz Named Chairman Of The Nuclear Regulatory Commission

["Radik Ixanov" <ixanov@sympatico.ca>]

April 1, 2003
(www.nrc.gov)


President George Bush has designated Dr. Nils J. Diaz as Chairman of the
Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
He succeeds Dr. Richard A. Meserve who left office yesterday.

Dr. Diaz is in his second five-year term as an NRC Commissioner, having
begun his first term on August 23, 1996. His current term runs until June
30, 2006.

In addition to the administrative responsibilities of the Chair, as a member
of the Commission Dr. Diaz participates in the exercise and direction of the
NRC’s licensing and regulatory functions. His duties include policy
formulation and rule-making, as well as issuing regulations, related orders,
and guidance for protection of the public health and safety, the common
defense and security, and the environment.

Dr. Diaz is Professor-Emeritus of Nuclear Engineering Sciences at the
University of Florida. Prior to joining the NRC, in addition to his academic
duties at the University, he was Director of the Innovative Nuclear Space
Power Institute (INSPI)–a national consortium of industries, universities
and national laboratories–and President and Principal Engineer of Florida
Nuclear Associates, Inc.

Dr. Diaz’ career includes 11 years as Director of INSPI for the Defense
Department’s Ballistic Missile Defense Organization, two years in California
as Associate Dean for Research at the California State University Long
Beach, one year in Spain as Principal Advisor to Spain’s Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, and six years at nuclear utilities and vendors. From 1971-1996,
Dr. Diaz consulted on nuclear engineering and energetics to private
industry, the U.S. Government and several foreign governments.

Dr. Diaz holds a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University
of Villanova, Havana, an M.S. in Nuclear Engineering and a Ph.D. in Nuclear
Engineering Sciences from the University of Florida. He has received formal
training and practice in Nuclear Medicine and Health Physics and was
licensed as a Senior Reactor Operator for 12 years by the NRC. He has
published more than 70 refereed papers on reactor kinetics and safety,
instrumentation and control, imaging and non-destructive examination,
advanced reactor concepts, nuclear space power and propulsion, and nuclear
fuels. He is a Fellow of the American Nuclear Society, the American Society
of Mechanical Engineers and the American Association for the Advancement of
Science.