Dave Hays said he and the other USACE health physicists don’t wait for problems to emerge; they get involved as soon as radiation enters the conversation.
“We get involved as soon as possible anytime that radiation is mentioned,” Hays said. “We’re involved in everything dealing with radioactivity.”
A senior health physicist with the Kansas City District, Hays began his career working with medical and industrial application of radiation as an active-duty preventive medicine technician in the Army. Nearly four decades later, including more than 30 years with USACE, he has built a career defined by breadth and early engagement.
Hays supports projects ranging from environmental remediation and industrial operations to reactor-related work and radioactive material transportation and disposal. But much of his focus centers on the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP), where early involvement is critical.
Under FUSRAP, USACE identifies, investigates and, when necessary, cleans up sites contaminated during the nation’s early atomic energy programs. Hays has contributed at every stage of that process: helping write preliminary assessments, conducting site investigations and supporting projects through final remediation and closure.
“It’s not just reviewing paperwork,” he said. “We’re part of the team from the very beginning, helping shape how the work gets done safely.”
He also provides technical support to other federal agencies, including the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency, helping determine regulatory compliant cleanup approaches.
For Hays, the diversity of assignments is part of what makes the role uniquely suited to USACE.
“It’s a wide range, and it’s that variety that keeps the job interesting,” Hays said. “After 39 years, I still love the job.”