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“TRIBUTE TO DR. HAROLD McFARLANE” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Energy was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E121-E122 on Feb. 4, 2016.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TRIBUTE TO DR. HAROLD McFARLANE
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HON. MICHAEL K. SIMPSON
of idaho
in the house of representatives
Thursday, February 4, 2016
Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my thanks to a dedicated public servant. After forty-three years of service, achievement and recognition, Dr. Harold McFarlane is retiring from the Idaho National Laboratory. Speaking at a colleague's retirement ceremony years ago, Harold noted that his colleague ``came to work every day and made a difference.'' The same can be said of Dr. McFarlane, he came to work every day and he made a difference.
If you are going to try to pay tribute to Harold McFarlane, you are going to need lots of time and lots of paper. Harold's accomplishments and contributions as a scientist, an administrator, and a leader are as impactful as they are extensive.
After graduating from high school in Texas, Harold earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Texas. Harold then went to the California Institute of Technology to earn his PhD in engineering science. After a short stint teaching nuclear engineering at New York University, in 1973 Harold moved his young family to Idaho to join Argonne-West National Laboratory to start up the Zero Power Plutonium Reactor, or ZPPR as it is known in Idaho. Thus began Harold's forty-
three year career at Argonne-West and the Idaho National Laboratory. At the labs, Harold became involved in almost every major Department of Energy advanced reactor, nuclear fuel cycle, international collaboration, and space power project.
While working at Argonne-West, Harold took up another challenge and earned his Master's in Business Administration from the University of Chicago. As recognition of his skills and leadership became better known, in 2006 Harold was elected President of the American Nuclear Society.
In 2011, Harold served special assignment in Washington, DC supporting the Office of Nuclear Energy, and in the wake of the Fukushima earthquake and tsunami, Harold became a key technical source for Secretary Chu and others at the Department of Energy (DOE) explaining what was happening on the ground. Harold later received a special commendation from DOE for his contribution during this time.
Harold continued his contribution to international nuclear collaboration when he served as the Technical Director of the Generation IV International Forum (GIF) and later Chief of Staff to the GIF chairman.
Throughout his career, Harold has been put in charge of difficult technical projects, and he led, mentored, and executed all with professionalism and distinction. Along the way, Harold accumulated a cadre of colleagues, friends and young scientists who wanted to work with him
Since his days at the University of Texas, Harold has had one partner in this wonderful career and life, his wife Mary Ellen. Harold would be the first to acknowledge that although his work and reputation made him one of the most recognizable nuclear professionals in the world, in Idaho Falls he is best known as Mary Ellen's husband.
Harold and Mary Ellen are avid golfers and the two have played courses around the world in another pursuit of excellence. Along with their son Matt, Mary Ellen and Harold deserve our thanks and well wishes as his career at the lab ends.
Harold, thank you for coming to work every day and for making a difference.
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