KNOXVILLE, TN – In honor of National Volunteer Week, today Department of Energy (DOE) Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management Jim Rispoli recognized Kathleen Peterson with the President’s Volunteer Service Award during a ceremony in Knoxville, Tennessee.  Ms. Peterson is a DOE employee who has devoted over 100 hours of community service as chair of the Nevada Site-Specific Advisory Board, providing advice and recommendations to DOE’s environmental restoration and waste management activities at the Nevada Test Site since 2001.  Ms. Peterson previously served as chair of the Underground Test Area Committee. 

 

“Those honored this week set a high standard for all Americans and should be proud of their service, sacrifice and generosity.  We are very fortunate, as a nation, and the Department of Energy recognizes the importance of volunteerism.  I want to thank Kathleen, volunteers honored this week and volunteers nationwide who play a key role in making this nation so great,” Secretary Bodman said.

 

Ms. Peterson works for Lockheed Martin in support of the U.S. Department of Defense as the Director of Environmental Safety & Health.  She is also the Chief Scientist for Depleted Uranium and provides technical support on environmental impacts and remediation technologies.  She is a Certified Environmental Manager and is familiar with the Nevada Test Site.  Ms. Peterson possesses a B.S. and M.S., and is also a Ph.D. candidate.  She resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

 

As part of a broader effort to recognize individuals in honor of National Volunteer Week, Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman and senior DOE leadership traveling the country this week, will present a total of 14 DOE employees with the President’s Volunteer Award.  

 

President George W. Bush has called on all Americans to volunteer two years or 4,000 hours over the course of their lifetime. Through the USA Freedom Corps, President Bush wants to help every American answer the Call to Service by strengthening and expanding service opportunities to protect our homeland, support our communities and extend American compassion around the world.  Interested volunteers can find information on the USA Freedom Corps at http://www.freedomcorps.gov/ or by calling 1-877-USA-CORPS.