NEW YORK, May 16, 2008 – Dale E. Klein, Ph.D., P.E., a resident of Arlington, Va., and chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Washington, D.C., was honored by ASME.  He was recognized for distinguished public service and eminent achievements in the advancement of nuclear power worldwide through education, research, and assurance of the safety and security of nuclear power plants; and for contributions to the formulation and execution of policy and plans for nuclear, chemical and biological weapons safety, and defense programs.  He received the Society’s James N. Landis Medal.

The award was established in honor of James N. Landis, president of ASME in 1958.  It is bestowed upon an individual for outstanding personal performance related to designing, constructing or managing the operation of major steam-powered electric stations using nuclear or fossil fuels, coupled with personal leadership in some humanitarian pursuit.  The award was presented to Klein during the International Conference on Nuclear Engineering, which was held in Orlando, Fla., May 11-15.

Klein became chairman of the NRC on July 1, 2006.  As chairman, he is the principal executive officer of and the official spokesman for the NRC.  He is responsible for conducting the administrative, organizational, long-range planning, budgetary and certain personnel functions of the agency.

Before joining the NRC, Klein served as the assistant to the secretary of defense for nuclear, chemical and biological defense programs.  There 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.

Klein 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.

An ASME Fellow, Klein received outstanding service awards from the ASME Central Texas Section (1979, 1981, and 1985), an ASME Certificate of Appreciation (1982) and the Society’s Edwin F. Church Medal (1988).  Klein is also a Fellow of the American Nuclear Society.

Klein earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering and his Ph.D. in nuclear engineering at the University of Missouri, Columbia, in 1970, 1971 and 1977, respectively.  He is a registered professional engineer in Texas.

Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME is a not-for-profit professional organization promoting the art, science and practice of mechanical and multidisciplinary engineering and allied sciences.  ASME develops codes and standards that enhance public safety, and provides lifelong learning and technical exchange opportunities benefiting the global engineering and technology community.

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