COMMISSIONER PETER B. LYONS TAKES OATH OF OFFICE AT NRC
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Peter B. Lyons was sworn in today as a Commissioner of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission by Chairman Nils J. Diaz at the NRC headquarters in Rockville, Md. Lyons had been appointed by the President during a Congressional recess and assumed office on Jan. 25, 2005. Commissioner Lyons was recently confirmed by the Senate to fill out the remainder of the full term, which will end June 30, 2009.

As a Commissioner, Lyons has focused on the goals of nuclear safety and security. In addition, he has been actively engaged in human capital challenges at NRC, a robust research program and preparations for the agency to meet the coming wave of applications expected for advanced reactor designs and licenses.

Prior to joining the NRC, Lyons served for eight years as science advisor to Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., and to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. During this time, he focused on military and civilian uses of nuclear technologies, national science policy and nuclear non-proliferation. He also advised Sen. Domenici on issues pertaining to international nuclear policy, energy research and development, and hydrogen technology.

Before his service with the Senate, Lyons worked for nearly 30 years at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. Lyons held various positions, including director for industrial partnerships, deputy associate director for energy and environment, and deputy associate director-defense research and applications. While at Los Alamos, he spent over a decade supporting nuclear test diagnostics, and as a result of this experience, has brought to the NRC insights regarding adequacy of computer modeling.

Lyons has published well over 100 technical papers, holds three patents related to fiber optics and plasma diagnostics, and served as chairman of the NATO Nuclear Effects Task Group for five years.

A native of Nevada, Lyons received his doctorate in nuclear astrophysics from the California Institute of Technology in 1969 and earned a bachelor’s degree in physics/math from the University of Arizona in 1964.

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Friday, November 28, 2008