Dale E. Klein
 Dale E. Klein     (academic) | ||||||||||||
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| Alma mater | University of Missouri-Columbi | |||||||||||
| Interests | • WMD • Nuclear waste | |||||||||||
Chairman of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission
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Dr. Dale E. Klein was assistant to the secretary of defense for nuclear and chemical and biological defense programs. Later he was made Chair of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.[1]
Background
A native of Missouri, 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.[2]
Nuclear issues
Klein was 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.[2]
Klein was Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Nuclear and Chemical and Biological Defense Programs. He was appointed to this position by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the Senate on Nov. 8, 2001. In this position, he was 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.[2]
Klein was the Chairman of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. He was Chairman from his July 1, 2006 until May 13, 2009. He then was a Commissioner on the same body from May 13, 2009 until his resignation on March 29, 2010. He was the 13th chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.[2]
Prior to his appointment by President George W. Bush, Dr. Klein was a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering (Nuclear Program) at The University of Texas at Austin. He was the Vice-Chancellor for Special Engineering Programs at The University of Texas System from 1995 until November 2001. Dr. Klein was also the Chairman and Executive Director of the Amarillo National Research Center (ANRC), during which time he oversaw over $45 million of funding concerning plutonium research and nuclear weapon dismantlement issues.
Klein has a history of political donations to Republican candidates, including George W. Bush, Rick Perry, John Cornyn, and John McCain. [3]
