For sustained and outstanding services to the American Board of Health Physics (ABHP) and the American Academy of Health Physics (AAHP), Jerry W. Hiatt is awarded the William A. McAdams Outstanding Service Award for 2011. The award was established in 1989, and it is presented annually by the ABHP and AAHP to honor a certified health physicist who has made a significant contribution toward the advancement of professionalism in health physics and to the certification process. In conferring this award, the Awards Committee noted Jerry's long association with the ABHP and his leadership role in initiating, developing, and implementing numerous improvements to the certification process. His services have collectively resulted in practical tools that have been in use since then.
Certified in 1984, Jerry was one of the early contributors to the ABHP when he served on the initial Part 1 Exam panel from 1988 to 1992. He became Vice-Chair in 1989 and the Chair in 1990. During this period, he spearheaded the assembly and maintenance of the first word-processed Exam bank, which has since then become a very valuable tool in exam preparation. Jerry also played a pivotal role in developing and administering the very first "Passing Point" Workshop and in leading two subsequent workshops. Jerry served on the Part 2 Exam panel from 1995 to 1999. In 2004, he was elected to the ABHP as Board Member and served his full term until 2008. During 2005 and 2006, he served as the Parliamentarian. His high standards, professionalism, and knowledge were deeply appreciated by his colleagues on the Board. A dedicated volunteer, he gave freely of his time and expertise to make a difference in the quality of the services provided by the ABHP. Jerry's constructive approach and wise counsel contributed greatly to the Board's continuous improvement of the certification process.
Jerry's volunteer activities have not been restricted to the ABHP. He has also contributed to the RP2020 Task Force and the Nuclear Uniform Curriculum Program of the Nuclear Energy Institute. He has contributed to ANSI N42.33, "American National Standard for Portable Radiation Detection Instrumentation for Homeland Security," and ANSI N42.37, "Training Requirements for Homeland Security Purposes Using Radiation Detection Instrumentation for Interdiction and Prevention." He is currently on the Review and Rewrite Committee of ANSI 3.1, "Selection, Qualification, and Training of Personnel for Nuclear Power Plants." He also served on the Board of Directors - Power Reactors Section of the Health Physics Society. He is a member of Linn State Technical Institute, Aiken Technical College, and Indian River State College Advisory Boards. He has been a plenary member of the HPS since 1977.
Jerry graduated in the initial class with a B.S. in biology with health physics option from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1975. He has held a variety of health physics positions, progressing rapidly in his career. He started his health physics career as a Health Physics Technician for the Surry Nuclear Power Station. In 1976, he joined USNRC-Region III as a Radiation Specialist where he inspected and evaluated health physics programs at PWR, BWR, and research reactors, and at uranium conversion facilities for compliance with technical specifications/license conditions, NRC regulations, and industry standards. Jerry was on the initial USNRC Response Team for the Three Mile Island Incident and rotated through various assignments during the recovery process. He also played a substantial role in the planning and establishment of the Region III Incident Response Center and in the development of the post-TMI Region III Emergency Plan. Later, from 1979 to 1985, he was the Principal Health Physicist for the NUS Corporation where he performed a variety of tasks including ALARA training, developing health physics programs, writing and reviewing procedures and documents, and site emergency plans for multiple domestic and international - Slovenia, Spain, and Japan - nuclear power plants.
His assignments also included the development of an integrated and systematic approach to initial training across all of the Progress Energy nuclear sites, as well as developing radiation safety procedures for the start-up of the Harris Nuclear Plant. In 1985, he moved to the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (VEGP, Bartlett) as a Radiological Consultant where he assisted in the development of the VEGP Readiness Review Program and procedures and participated in the radiological "readiness review" process for initial station start-up. In 1986, he transitioned to his current position as the Chief Technical Officer and Executive Vice President for Environmental Safety and Health at the Corporate Office, Bartlett Holdings, Inc., where one of his passions remains providing training and guidance to employees (domestically and internationally) seeking to advance their careers in radiation safety.
Jerry's many years of sustained and dedicated service to the ABHP and the health physics community at large make him fully deserving of recognition and applause. With this award, Jerry joins an elite group of 22 previous recipients. It is with great pleasure that I present the William A. McAdams Outstanding Service award for 2011 to Jerry W. Hiatt.
Govind R. Rao, ABHP Vice Chair
