School of Health Sciences - Wilson McArthur
2004 Distinguished Alumnus

Wilson Mc Arthur served in the U. S. Air Force prior to obtaining his academic degrees. Upon graduation from Purdue, Dr. McArthur began his career as a Principal Project Engineer for Carolina Power and Light where he directed the engineering and coordinated the construction efforts of a 4 unit pressurized water reactor. During this time he was involved development of the first computerized radiation monitoring system at the Shearron Harris Nuclear Plant. He was also a pioneer in developing ALARA programs for other utilities and the Department of Energy.

He spent a short period of time with Nuclear Chicago Corporation/Texas Nuclear and installed low voltage accelerators in facilities including Valparaiso University and Notre Dame. In 1977, he became Vice President and General Manager of Hittman Nuclear and Development Corporation and President of Hittman Trucking Company with various responsibilities including the design of low-level radioactive waste solidification systems, field services for volume reduction/ packaging, and transporting low-level radioactive waste to burial sites.

Dr. McArthur held several positions in the nuclear industry and in 1982, he became principal and president of KLM Engineering, Inc. where he was responsible for radioactive waste, radiation protection consultation, and new business development. He also assisted health physics, radwaste, and chemistry groups within nuclear power plants through audits and corrective actions to develop a positive management style and a full understanding of their individual role and the relationship of their technical services to plant operations. After several years with KLM Engineering, Quadrex Environmental Company purchased assets of KLM and Dr. McArthur worked as Technical and Environmental Director for Quadrex. There he was responsible for developing a decontamination and decommissioning business effort.

In 1990, he assumed the position of Manager, Radiological and Chemistry Services for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). As manager his responsibilities included radiological safety, emergency preparedness, chemistry, radioactive waste management and the radiological laboratory, industrial safety, security, and environmental protection. During this time he also served on a task force to develop an additional low-level radioactive waste site and on the Safety Review Board for the Sequoyah, Browns Ferry, and Watts Bar Nuclear Plants.

He is currently teaching physics and astronomy at Utah Valley State College and Brigham Young University. He is working to develop both 2 and 4 year degrees in radiation protection at Utah Valley State College.

Dr. McArthur has authored and presented over 150 technical papers in the fields of radiation safety, instrumentation, waste management, computer applications, and organizational management. He is past president of North Carolina and Chattanooga Sections of the American Nuclear Society and the North Carolina Chapter of the Health Physics Society. He is also a registered Nuclear Engineer with the State of California and a Certified Hazards Control Manager.

Magic, cosmology, and collecting are a few of his interests and he recently presented a magic show for over 600 students. His collecting includes books, ceramic and stuffed frogs for his daughter, and watering cans for his wife. Dr. McArthur and his wife Robbie, a teacher by training, are very active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and in the lives of their three children and 10 grandchildren.