DOE Honors Former University Director for Improving Protections in Nuclear Industry

STARKVILLE, Miss. – DOE recognized a former Mississippi State University (MSU) research center director with a career award honoring his work to evaluate and improve high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters used to contain nuclear materials.

Charles Waggoner, director emeritus of MSU’s Institute for Clean Energy Technology (ICET), was presented with the DOE Distinguished Career Service Award by EM Associate Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Field Operations Nicole Nelson-Jean. Waggoner led the institute’s testing programs for 23 years before retiring earlier this year.

“Dr. Waggoner’s work led the industry and the accompanying codes down a path to withstand harsh conditions and accidents, to provide better protection for workers, the environment, and the public across the nuclear industry,” EM Acting Assistant Secretary William “Ike” White said in the award presentation. “The test program at MSU ICET is Dr. Waggoner’s crowning career achievement, and it will continue to be an asset to DOE and to the future of the nuclear industry.”

A three-time MSU graduate, Waggoner earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biochemistry before completing his Ph.D. in physical chemistry in 1985. He served as the university’s hazardous waste officer and an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry for five years before leaving to lead the Division of Environmental Science and Technology at Chattanooga State Technical Community College.

Waggoner returned to MSU in 1997, where he soon began working on DOE-funded efforts related to HEPA filters used to remove radioactive material from the air.

The research and testing carried out by Waggoner and his colleagues has led to international recognition for MSU. At ICET, Waggoner developed capabilities for testing filters under worst-case scenario conditions. The data gathered from HEPA filter testing at ICET is used to guide filtration standards at past and present nuclear facilities.

“Dr. Waggoner is incredibly deserving of this career honor,” MSU Vice President for Research and Economic Development Julie Jordan said. “His leadership and knowledge have been invaluable to the Department of Energy while cultivating and leading an outstanding team of researchers at MSU. His work will leave a lasting legacy at MSU and in the nuclear industry. We all wish him a happy retirement and congratulations on a job well done.”