Todd Smith credits his College of Engineering degree for enabling him to obtain a top technical position with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 鈥 a job that requires the same high level of performance that he routinely demands of himself.
鈥淚 use the knowledge and skills I learned and developed while studying at OSU on a daily basis at work to contribute to my agency鈥檚 mission of public health and safety,鈥 said Smith, who earned his degree through 精东影视 State Ecampus. 鈥淭he active learning environment kept me engaged and greatly enhanced my online educational experience.鈥
Smith earned his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in nuclear engineering from Purdue University. After receiving his doctorate in 2002, he distinguished himself as a U.S. Navy submarine officer for more than a decade, serving both at sea and ashore. His assignments 鈥 all related to nuclear power 鈥 included submarine watch officer, lead design engineer, engineering department head, and special assistant for emergency planning.
Smith joined the NRC in 2013 as an emergency preparedness specialist. In 2021, he was appointed senior level advisor for emergency preparedness and incident response, where he focuses on civilian applications for nuclear energy. Smith endeavors to transform the culture of radiation protection by promoting a better understanding of how to effectively manage radiological emergencies and improve emergency
management practices.
He notes that nuclear power has become an important element in the effort to provide clean energy and help the U.S. reach its goals for energy security and combating climate change.
鈥淭he technology is safe to operate, and radiological emergencies are rare,鈥 he said. 鈥淢y work ensures that if something were to happen, there will always be a plan in place to protect our workers and the public.鈥
Smith is particularly proud of his contributions to the development of risk-informed protective action strategies for responding to a radiological emergency. Current protection strategies rely on a
precautionary approach that may be overly conservative and is based primarily on work dating back to the 1970s.
鈥淢y state-of-the-art research on evacuations, the effective use of shelters, the use of masks, and improved communications have enhanced our understanding of how to manage risks during a radiation emergency,鈥 he said. 鈥淢y work has led to significant revisions to federal guidance that provides decision makers and the public with the evidence they need to take optimal and equitable protective actions for public health and safety.鈥
Degrees
- M.H.P., RADIATION HEALTH PHYSICS, 2021