Kira Sykes : Academy of Distinguished Engineers - 2016

Senior Radiological Project ManagerCH2M HILL Portland, Oregon.

Kira Sykes’ career with CH2M HILL began as an undergraduate, and she was soon investigating two liquid waste disposal sites at the Hanford Site in Washington. The sites had been contaminated with radioactive wastes from a reactor that produced plutonium during the Cold War.As a graduate student, Sykes conducted experiments on a special asphalt mix to test its potential use as an engineering cap over nuclear waste.

“My professors maintained a direct link to industry and had relevant projects that used our research in real-life applications”, she said.Upon graduation, she set out to make a difference in the environment by “cleaning up the world one atom at a time.”

“OSU set me apart from the pack,” she said. “I was prepared to tackle complex environmental projects with the right tools for the job. ”Sake has gained extensive experience in design, construction, and operation for sites contaminated with military munitions and explosives, and various other toxic and radioactive wastes.

She is now a senior radiological project manager in the company’s nuclear and environment sector, serving federal and commercial clients that are dealing with radioactive materials.She offers innovative solutions to site closures and has consulted for more than 30 U.U. clients in diverse industries, including mining, aero-space, the military, the chemical industry, and the federal government.

Her speciality is implementing complex multi-million dollar environmental projects with multiple, competing regulatory requirements. A current focus is assisting the U.S. Navy in determining their general radiological material liabilities at air stations, weapon stations, and shipyards.

Degrees

• B.S. Nuclear Engineering, 1991
• M.S Environmental Engineering, 1994, with a minor in Radiation Health Physics