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NRC NEWS
U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION |
| Office of Public Affairs |
Telephone: 301/415-8200 |
| Washington, DC 20555-001 |
E-mail: opa@nrc.gov |
No. 98-192
October 23, 1998
COMMISSIONER MERRIFIELD TAKES OATH OF OFFICE;
DICUS SWEARING-IN SET FOR NEXT WEEK
Jeffrey S. Merrifield was sworn in as a Commmissioner of the
Nuclear Regulatory Commission today by Chairman Shirley Ann
Jackson in a ceremony at the NRC. Greta Joy Dicus will be sworn
in for a second term in Hot Springs, Ark., early next week by
Arkansas state Judge Vicki Cook.
The additions bring the NRC to its full complement of five
Commissioners for the first time since June of last year. The
other members of the Commission are Nils J. Diaz and Edward
McGaffigan Jr.
Commissioner Dicus served initially from Feb. 15, 1996, until
June 30 of this year, when her first term expired. She was
renominated by President Clinton in May, but the nomination
wasn't acted on by the full Senate until the final day before it
recessed, on Wednesday, when it approved a large number of
nominees. Her new term runs until June 30, 2003.
Commissioner Merrifield, whose nomination was also approved
Wednesday, is filling a vacancy which runs until June 30, 2002.
Before joining the NRC, Ms. Dicus had extensive experience as a
health physicist, research scientist, medical school instructor,
radiation health director and corporate board member.
From 1980 to 1995, she worked in progressively more responsible
positions in the Division of Radiation Control and Emergency
Management at the Arkansas Department of Health. She was Chief
of Licensing from 1982 to 1984 and was Director of the Division
for nine years thereafter.
Concurrently, from 1991 to 1993, she served as Chairman of the
Central Interstate Low-level Radioactive Waste Commission. For 16
years, from 1961 to 1977, Ms. Dicus conducted research in
radiation health effects at Harvard Medical School, Rice
University, the University of Texas, and Southwestern Medical
School.
An Arkansas native, Ms. Dicus graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
degree in biological sciences from Texas Woman's University in
1961 and earned a Master's degree in radiation biology from the
University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in 1967.
Before joining the NRC, Mr. Merrifield had served since 1995 as
Counsel and Staff Director to the Senate Subcommittee on
Superfund, Waste Control and Risk Assessment. From 1992 to 1995,
he was an associate with the Washington, D.C., law firm of
McKenna & Cuneo. From 1990 to 1992, he served as a legislative
assistant to Sen. Robert C. Smith (R-N.H.), and from 1987 to 1990
as a legislative assistant to then-Sen. Gordon J. Humphrey (R-N.H.).
A native of Antrim, N.H., Mr. Merrifield received his Bachelor of
Arts degree, magna cum laude, in political science and history
from Tufts University in 1985 and his Doctor of Jurisprudence
degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1992.
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