CCHPS Officer Election 2023

BS in Chemistry in 1994 from University of Missouri - Rolla
MS in Health Physics in 2004 from Illinois Institute of Technology
Registered Radiation Protection Technologist in 2003
Certified Health Physicist in 2004
Certified Hazardous Materials Manager in 2005
Engineer Intern - Illinois in 2006
Certified Safety Professional in 2019
Certified Instructional Trainer in 2019

Todd has performed most of his career in Radiation Protection, particularly in the field of decommissioning. Has served on several committees in the national Health Physics Society, including currently being on the Intersociety Relations Committee. Has served on the Board and Panel for the NRRPT as well as many committees. Has served on several committees for the American Academy of Health Physics, including currently serving on the Appeals Committee.

Todd believes in outreach with students and the local and national public.  He believes in strengthening our relationships with other professional science and engineering societies.  He especially believes that it is our professional job to mentor other persons in science and engineering.  Mentorship is important with all levels including the public, students, young professionals, and old professionals.  None of us will be working forever.  We all need to share our knowledge and experience so that others may benefit. Todd is happy to be a new member of the Columbia Chapter of the HPS.  He wants it to be one of the best local chapters in the HPS. Todd looks forward to meeting with you and to serving with you in any capacity.

Education
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, WSU, 1995 Bachelor of Science in Physics, U.S. Naval Academy, 1980

Certifications
Diplomate, American Board of Health Physics, 1996-present
Professional Engineer, State of Washington

Experience
Mr. Fordham has worked in the radiation industry for over 40 years. Starting in the US Navy on board nuclear submarines in the 1980’s. Much of his early career, he served as a Navy submarine engineering division officer where he had daily responsibility for nuclear plant operations and personnel radiation control.

His civilian career includes operations at the Fast Flux Test Facility in Washington, oversight of waste operations at the commercial Low-Level Radioactive Waste disposal site and at a local rad waste broker. While in these positions, he investigated and wrote several reports on numerous radioactive material incidents that utilized the practices and principles (e.g., dose reconstructions) critical to health physics. In the 1990’s Earl joined the local and national Health Physics Society.

In 2002, Mr. Fordham became a Deputy Director for the state of Washington’s radiation control program. He directs and integrates the work of four groups: environmental sciences, radioactive materials, waste management and radioactive air emissions, state-wide. He assesses radiological events for public impact and dispatches personnel for observations and surveys. He represents the Dept. of Health on advisory committees including the Hanford Advisory Board.

Earl is willing to serve the Chapter in any capacity needed. He has previously served as Chapter Secretary. He believes serving at the Chapter level is best use of his talents.

CC HPS, NRRPT, PNNL Radiation Protection, Columbia Basin College Adjunct Instructor, Associate ABHP Membership

Alden is an early career health physicist who loves to be outdoors and to help others learn about health physics. Alden’s passion for health physics unknowingly began in high school, though it wasn’t until nearly a decade and a half later that he entered the field as a technician on the Hanford Site. An Oregon State University Master of Health Physics program graduate, he dedicates evenings in the spring, fall, and winter to instruction in the Bachelor of Health Physics program at Columbia Basin College; summers are spent in the mountains of the American West. In his role as a PNNL health physicist, he supports the Lab in the implementation of Radiological Training and Access Controls to assure the workforce is adequately prepared to work with radioactive materials. While Alden has (far too) much to learn, he looks forward to the opportunity to support the long-standing health physics community of the Tri-Cities and surrounding areas.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) Health Physicist/PNNL-Sequim Radiation Protection Support Manager (RPSM) (she/her/hers)/ Relief Radiation Protection Support Manager (RPSM) Balance of Laboratory

Affiliations
National Registry of Radiation Protection Technologists (NRRPT) Panel of Examiners, NRRPT Newsletter Committee Chairman

Michelle is a Health Physicist, the Radiation Protection Services Manager (RPSM) for PNNL-Sequim, and serves as relief RPSM for Balance of Lab. She holds National Registry of Radiation Protection Technologists (NRRPT) certification and actively participates in the NRRPT organization both as a member of Panel of Examiners and as the chairman of the Newsletter Committee . She has more than 34 years of Radiation Protection experience and has worked at Hanford, Rocky Flats, the Idaho Cleanup Project, and Idaho National Laboratory. Michelle likes to hike, golf, paddleboard, travel, spend time with her daughter and family that live in Idaho, and spoiling her three dogs.

Darrell Fisher has been a member of the Columbia Chapter since 1978, serving later as Chapter president.  He was also a member of the HPS Board of Directors, Treasurer, and President.  Today Fisher is a nuclear medicine physicist with Versant Medical Physics & Radiation Safety (Kalamazoo, Michigan, a gold sponsor of HPS).  He served 35 years as senior scientist and lead for the Isotope Sciences Program at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.  From 2003 to 2005 he was science advisor to the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (on loan from PNNL).  He is a 30-year member of the MIRD Committee of the Society of Nuclear Medicine.  Fisher received his Ph.D. in nuclear engineering sciences from the University of Florida.  His current research interest involves development and testing of interstitially administered radionuclide polymer composites for treating solid-tissue cancers in human and veterinary patients.  He believes that the Columbia Chapter provides growth, education, and service opportunities for young health physicists, seasoned retirees, and all members in between in various stages of our professional careers.