WC Monitor
8/1/2014

Defense Nuclear Facility Safety Board Member Joseph Bader passed away this week at the age of 75. Bader had served on the DNFSB since 2004, and previously held executive and senior management positions at several companies, including Hill International, Inc., Fluor Daniel, Inc., Urenco, Inc., Exxon Nuclear and Westinghouse Electric Corporation. In a notice issued late this week, the DNFSB said, “Mr. Bader was an enthusiastic proponent of the Board’s mission to protect the health and safety of the public and workers at DOE’s defense nuclear facilities, and immediately brought his decades of experience in the nuclear industry to bear upon thorny technical and policy issues. In nearly a decade of service as a member of the Board, Mr. Bader championed the concept of ‘safety in design,’ to ensure that safety is considered beginning with the earliest stages of nuclear design projects when fundamental decisions are made.”

The Board notice went on to state, “Mr. Bader worked closely with the staff and was a constant source of ideas for maximizing the Board’s impact on safety. All the Board Members and staff were inspired by his determination to fight through his long battle with cancer, and were saddened by the news of death on July 24, 2014. Mr. Bader will be remembered for his dedication, generosity, and his ability to find humor in every situation. He will be missed.”

In a written response to WC Monitor this week, DNFSB Chairman Peter Winokur said, “Joe Bader made immensurable contributions to the Board and the Nation. He played a major role in all Board actions for nearly a decade. It’s hard to replace that level of commitment and knowledge. It’s hard to say goodbye to a friend.” The White House nominated Daniel Santos, a Senior Technical Advisor at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, to replace Bader on the DNFSB in June.