Recently retired NNSA Deputy General Counsel Hank Van Dyke reflects on his public service career

Henry “Hank” Van Dyke, Former Deputy General Counsel for NNSA, will say that his 38 years of public service lacks luster, but his exemplary career and accompanying stories suggest quite the opposite.

Van Dyke began his NNSA career as an attorney with the Naval Reactors field office in Schenectady, New York. He came to NNSA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., as a special advisor to the Office of the General Counsel, which provides legal services, counsel, and support to the agency. Van Dyke would later assume the role of Deputy General Counsel, which he held until his retirement this past January. In total, Van Dyke spent 31 years serving with NNSA and its predecessor organizations. It’s not often you get to hear from someone who witnessed the formation of the NNSA, but he took time to share his experiences, his wisdom, and ultimately, what mattered most in his career.

Thirty-eight years of public service is incredible. What are some of your most memorable moments during your tenure?

I was fortunate to serve more than 31 of those years supporting the missions of NNSA, as well as its predecessor organization. Having had the opportunity to do so allowed me to participate in a number of memorable events and decisions, both from a personal and professional perspective. One of those memories, particularly satisfying to someone with a legal background, was observing the oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court, in an age-discrimination case that I had managed on behalf of the government. The case arose during my tenure as Chief Counsel at the Schenectady Naval Reactors Office (Now NRLFO), and I was privileged to be able to see the arguments presented before the high court by the respective parties and their counsel. It may make me a legal nerd, but it was an awesome experience.

On a less satisfying and terribly tragic note, the 9/11 terrorist attacks on our country will always be an unforgettable time. Our resulting rededication to supporting the NNSA’s most important missions of has stayed with me for the past 20 years. During my tenure as Deputy General Counsel for General Law and Litigation, I reflected each day on those events, reminded visually by a photograph of the World Trade Center I maintained in my office.

Finally, I will always remember my engagement with the leadership of the NNSA over my nearly 13 years stationed at the Forrestal Building in the Nation’s capital. The dedication, openness, accessibility, and respect shown among this ever-changing band of individuals was truly unique, encouraging, and inspiring. Often said, and maybe cliché, but many of my most memorable moments of pride and satisfaction were thanks to the people of the NNSA.

What are some of your fondest NNSA memories?

The people I had the chance to work with over the years, both in the field offices and at Headquarters. I will forever be grateful for the good fortune to work with a truly amazing team of lawyers and others within the NNSA Office of the General Counsel. The camaraderie, professionalism, dedication, and expertise of everyone in that organization is truly amazing and unique. I cannot imagine having stayed on for so many years beyond my retirement eligibility were it not for these colleagues and friends. I also recognize that this spirit of teamwork exists throughout the NNSA, having seen it in my many interactions with the program and support offices over the years.

What are some of your favorite work-related projects with NNSA?

Although I enjoyed being able to address legal issues throughout the many years – issues including fiscal law and legislative interpretations, succession planning, and most importantly, the application and breadth of the NNSA Act – one of my favorite projects was managing the NNSA Legal Internship Program . This program not only proved to be a source of full-time employment opportunities, but it allowed for a large audience of future lawyers to be exposed to the NNSA, its missions, and the importance of its legal office. Engaging with the students, law schools, and various consortia of legal programs was personally and professionally gratifying. Working with the interns daily encouraged their professional growth while providing them with insights into the appeal of government “lawyering.”

What will you miss most about your work at NNSA?

At the risk of repeating myself, I will miss the interactions with my legal and non-legal colleagues at the NNSA. The people of the General Counsel’s office, the leadership, and the “client” offices, both in Headquarters and the field, are a unique group. Dedicated to doing the right thing for advancing the NNSA’s missions, these individuals maintained a healthy balance of seriousness and good humor needed to have made every work day (yes, even those “bad and stressful days”) satisfying, which made me want to come back the next day for more. My decision to retire was made difficult because of the people I worked with, became friends with, and will always remember fondly.

Any advice for others interested in public service?

I always said this to the law students I met over the years: public service has been the best decision I could have made in my professional life. Working for an organization such as the NNSA, which historically has maintained bipartisan support due to its significant and most important missions, allows for both personal and professional growth, as well as the chance to use one's talents and skills in repayment to our Nation for all of our received blessings and opportunities.

Van Dyke looks forward to enjoying retirement with his wife, Mary Eileen Murphy Van Dyke. They will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary on July 4th this year – with their six children, and four grandchildren.