[DNFSB LETTERHEAD]

ANNOUNCEMENT

 
For Immediate Release
Washington, DC 		November 13, 2001


The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (Board) is pleased to announce the assignment of Dr. Matthew J. Forsbacka as a Board Site Representative at the Department of Energy's Y-12 National Security Complex (Y-12), Oak Ridge, Tennessee, effective December 2, 2001. Dr. Forsbacka will be joining Mr. Paul Gubanc, also a Board Site Representative.

As one of the Board's two Site Representatives, Dr. Forsbacka will advise the Board with regard to the overall safety and health conditions at Y-12, and will participate in the conduct of Board reviews and evaluations related to the design, construction, operations, and weapons activities at Y-12. He will also act as the Board's liaison with the Department of Energy, Y-12 management, federal, state and local agencies, the public, and industry officials.

Dr. Forsbacka joined the Board's technical staff in January 1998. Dr. Forsbacka's previous assignments with the Board included serving as the Board's lead engineer for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories. Among his other assignments were safety reviews in the areas of nuclear explosive safety, nuclear criticality safety, and research reactor operations.

Prior to joining the Board, Dr. Forsbacka was a U.S. Air Force Officer serving in a variety of technical assignments during 14 years of active duty service. These assignments included performing fundamental research and development for advanced space nuclear reactors, supervising test and research nuclear reactor operations, and providing technical support to the enduring nuclear weapons stockpile. He has also been an educator, teaching physics at the U.S. Naval Academy and nuclear engineering at the University of Maryland. Dr. Forsbacka continues as a major in the US Air Force Reserves, serving as a developmental engineer with the Air Force Office of Scientific Research.

Dr. Forsbacka holds a Ph.D. degree in nuclear engineering from the University of Virginia and M.E. and B.S. degrees in nuclear engineering from the University of Florida.

Dr. Forsbacka and his family will reside in the Oak Ridge area.