Bio for Thomas F. O’Connell
Tom O’Connell has an extensive background in radiation safety, CBRN response and health physics. He is a fellow member of the Health Physics Society; is an expert instructor for the International Atomic Energy Agency; maintains Pro Board accreditation as a National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Fire Service Instructor II through the Massachusetts Fire Training Council and holds a Masters of Science degree in Radiological Sciences and Protection from the University of Lowell.
He has retired in 2015 from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health after 37 plus years in public service. The last twelve years of his public career he served as the departments’ liaison to the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services Hazardous Materials Response Division. In this liaison role, he coordinated connecting public safety and public health response with the healthcare infrastructure.
During his service to the commonwealth, he supervised an analytical radiation laboratory, maintained a biological threat competency assessment program, a joint program between public health and public safety as well as responded to hazardous materials incidents.
Tom teaches radiation safety, response to biological threat substances and emergency response nationally and internationally. Over the past 37 plus years, he has worked with and provided practical aspects of response and interdiction training to fire departments, emergency medical services, law enforcement organizations, Federal Bureau of Investigation, emergency management officials, hazardous materials teams, regulatory and foreign government representatives.
Tom O’Connell has an extensive background in radiation safety, CBRN response and health physics. He is a fellow member of the Health Physics Society; is an expert instructor for the International Atomic Energy Agency; maintains Pro Board accreditation as a National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Fire Service Instructor II through the Massachusetts Fire Training Council and holds a Masters of Science degree in Radiological Sciences and Protection from the University of Lowell.
He has retired in 2015 from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health after 37 plus years in public service. The last twelve years of his public career he served as the departments’ liaison to the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services Hazardous Materials Response Division. In this liaison role, he coordinated connecting public safety and public health response with the healthcare infrastructure.
During his service to the commonwealth, he supervised an analytical radiation laboratory, maintained a biological threat competency assessment program, a joint program between public health and public safety as well as responded to hazardous materials incidents.
Tom teaches radiation safety, response to biological threat substances and emergency response nationally and internationally. Over the past 37 plus years, he has worked with and provided practical aspects of response and interdiction training to fire departments, emergency medical services, law enforcement organizations, Federal Bureau of Investigation, emergency management officials, hazardous materials teams, regulatory and foreign government representatives.