AECL appoints new senior vice-president for nuclear laboratories

Chalk River, ON – Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) has appointed Dr Robert Walker as senior vice-president responsible for its nuclear laboratories. The appointment is effective November 15, 2010.

Dr Walker’s will lead AECL’s research and development efforts in physics, metallurgy, chemistry, biology and engineering. He will also guide the nuclear laboratories through AECL’s restructuring to maintain the laboratories as one of the world’s foremost nuclear research facilities.

“Robert’s strong academic credentials, combined with his extensive public policy and laboratory operations experience, make him uniquely suited for the nuclear laboratories,” says Hugh MacDiarmid, AECL’s president and CEO.

Dr Walker received his NDC designation from the National Defence College and earned a BSc in physics from Acadia University. He also holds an MEng in engineering physics and a PhD in electrical engineering from McMaster University. He is a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering.

Currently he serves as assistant deputy minister (ADM), science and technology of the Department of National Defence, and the chief executive officer of defence R&D Canada.