Appendix B
Biographical Sketches of the Committee Members
Robert A. Beaudet, chair, received his Ph.D. in physical chemistry from Harvard University. He joined the faculty of the University of Southern California in 1962 as an assistant professor and is now a full professor in the Chemistry Department. He has extensive knowledge of chemical-agent monitoring and detection technologies and has served on several Department of Defense committees on chemical-warfare agents.
Richard J. Ayen received his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Illinois. Dr. Ayen is currently an independent consultant and was formerly the director of technology for Waste Management, Inc. He has extensive experience in the evaluation and development of new technologies for the treatment of hazardous, radioactive, industrial, and municipal waste.
Joan B. Berkowitz graduated from the University of Illinois with a Ph.D. in physical chemistry. Dr. Berkowitz is currently managing director of Farkas Berkowitz and Company. She has extensive experience in the area of environmental and hazardous-waste management, a comprehensive knowledge of available technologies for the cleanup of contaminated soils and groundwater, and a strong background in physical and electrochemistry.
Nosa O. Egiebor graduated from Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, with a Ph.D. in mineral process and reaction engineering. Dr. Egiebor currently holds the Department of Energy Samuel P. Massie Chair of Excellence in Environmental Engineering at Tuskegee University. His areas of expertise span a broad range of topics in environmental engineering; his specific focus is on the biotreatment of hazardous wastes and supercritical-fluid technology.
Willard C. Gekler graduated from the Colorado School of Mines with a degree in petroleum-refining engineering. Mr. Gekler, formerly vice president, chief engineer at PLG, Inc., is currently an independent consultant. His extensive experience includes design and safety analysis of hazardous-materials handling, storage, and waste-treatment systems. He specializes in hazard evaluation, quantitative risk analysis, reliability assessment, and database development for risk and reliability.
Hank C. Jenkins-Smith received his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Rochester. Dr. Jenkins-Smith is currently a professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of New Mexico, where he is also the director of the Institute for Public Policy. His areas of expertise include statistical analysis, measurement of public opinion, politics of risk perception, environmental policy, and public policy.
John L. Margrave, a member of the National Academy of Sciences, graduated from the University of Kansas with a B.S. in engineering physics and a Ph.D. in physical chemistry. Dr. Margrave is currently the chief scientific officer at the Houston Advanced Research Center and the E.D. Butcher Professor of Chemistry at Rice University. His expertise is in high-temperature chemistry, materials science, and environmental chemistry.
Walter G. May, a member of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), graduated with a Sc.D. in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was the senior science advisor for Exxon Research and Engineering Company from 1976 to 1983 and professor of chemical engineering at the University of Illinois from 1983 until his retirement in 1991. His expertise is in process design, thermodynamics, chemical-reactor design, separation processes, industrial chemistry and stoichiometry, and chemical-weapons disposal.
Kirk E. Newman received a B.S. in chemistry from the
College of William and Mary and an M.S. in chemical engineering from the University of Virginia. Mr. Newman is currently technology group leader for the Yorktown Detachment of the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Division. He has extensive experience in the development, processing, and characterization of energetic materials used in military applications.
Jimmie C. Oxley received her Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and is currently an associate professor of chemistry at the University of Rhode Island. Her expertise is in thermal decomposition of energetic materials, explosives chemistry, and explosives safety.
William R. Rhyne received a B.S. in nuclear engineering from the University of Tennessee and an M.S. and D.Sc. in nuclear engineering from the University of Virginia. Dr. Rhyne is cofounder and director of H&R Technical Associates, Inc. He has extensive experience in risk and safety analysis associated with the processing and transport of hazardous nuclear materials and chemicals.
Stanley I. Sandler, a member of the NAE, graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Ph.D. in chemical engineering. Currently, he is the Henry Belin du Pont Professor and director of the Center for Molecular and Engineering Thermodynamics at the University of Delaware. His extensive research interests include applied thermodynamics and phase equilibrium, environmental engineering, and separations and purification.
William Randall Seeker, who received his Ph.D. in nuclear and chemical engineering from Kansas State University, is senior vice president of GE Energy and Environmental Research Corporation. Dr. Seeker has extensive experience in the use of treatment technologies and environmental-control systems for managing solid waste and controlling air pollution emissions. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Science Advisory Board.
Leo Weitzman received his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Purdue University. He is a consultant with 28 years of experience in the development, design, permitting, and operation of equipment and facilities for treating hazardous wastes and remediation debris. Dr. Weitzman has extensive experience in the disposal of hazardous waste and contaminated materials by thermal treatment, chemical reaction, solvent extraction, biological treatment, and stabilization.
