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JAMES R. THORNTON
68 Oakville Road
Hampton, Virginia 23669
(757) 851-7170
WORK EXPERIENCE
2011 – Present
Huntington Ingalls Industries – Newport News Shipbuilding
Newport News, VA
Director, Environmental, Health and Safety, Strategy and Regulatory Affairs
Develop and implement a comprehensive five-year EH&S strategic plan for the
largest nuclear shipyard in the country; represent the company’s interests in
emerging EH&S regulations and influential professional and trade associations.
Currently working with a corporate team to establish and operate Family Health
Centers to provide primary health care for over 66,000 covered lives.
2009 – 2011
Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipbuilding
Newport News, VA and Gulf Coast, MS
Sector Director, Environmental, Health, and Safety
Direct all activities of the Environmental, Heath, and Safety organization
comprising 231 employees (located in Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and
California), and an annual budget of $75M. This organization provides support to
six shipyards and 40,000 employees. Five sites are certified by OSHA’s VPP
program, and two sites are ISO 14001 registered. Responsible for health and
safety, environmental, fire and emergency services, EHS design engineering,
workers compensation, and three on-site full-service medical facilities.
1993 - 2009
Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipbuilding
Newport News, VA
Director, Environmental Health and Safety, Health, Safety and
Environmental Division
Direct the risk management program for a $2 billion nuclear shipbuilding and
repair complex comprising over 500 acres and 18,000 employees. Responsible
for the Medical Department, Workers' Compensation Department, Health, Safety
and Environmental Departments, and all risk management efforts and division
TQM programs. Manage an annual budget in excess of $50.0M and a staff of 85
professionals. Directed efforts and programs to obtain “STAR” status in the
OSHA Voluntary Protection Program-NNS is the largest site in the program and
the only shipyard so recognized. Directed efforts to obtain ISO14001
Environmental Management Systems certification – again, the largest in the U.S.
Awarded the OSHA "impact" award by the Assistant Secretary of Labor for
Distinguished Service on the OSHA Shipyard Employment Standards Advisory
Committee. NNS was awarded Workers’ Compensation Program of the Year in
1999 by Risk and Insurance magazine.
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1992 - 1993
Manager, Health, Safety and Environmental, Health, Safety and
Environmental Department
Managed a comprehensive corporate occupational health, safety and
environmental program for a 31,000-employee shipyard. Determined and
implemented company policy and programs regarding preventive occupational
health and safety matters and environmental concerns. Investigated worker
compensation claims and served as an expert witness in litigation. Studied
causes of occupational injuries and illnesses and implemented appropriate
control measures. Developed Corporate MSDS program and other databases to
support EPA SARA III, CERCLA, RCRA, and other required health, safety, and
environmental reports. Developed self-assessment and quality control models
and programs. Participated in environmental compliance audits. Directed the
plant Pest Control Program. Directed training programs for chemical, physical,
and biological agents. Managed a staff of thirty-seven professionals, including
five Board Certified Industrial Hygienists, two certified safety professionals and
two Industrial Hygienists-in-training. Managed an annual budget of $2.0M and
assets of $2.5M.
1978 - 1992
Manager, Industrial Hygiene, Industrial Hygiene Department
Managed a performance-oriented industrial hygiene program for the largest
private shipyard in the Country. Developed and implemented comprehensive
occupational health programs to minimize exposures to hazardous substances.
Established and maintained an AIHA - accredited laboratory. Developed and
implemented training programs for occupational health hazards such as lead,
asbestos, and noise. Managed an annual budget of $800K and assets of $1.5M.
Senior Industrial Hygienist, Medical Department
Planned, supervised, and conducted industrial hygiene surveys in a shipbuilding
and repair facility. Supervised 5 Industrial Hygiene Technicians, evaluated
potential health hazards, and developed control measures.
1976 - 1985
Thomas Nelson Community College
Hampton, Virginia
Adjunct Professor
Instructor for industrial hygiene and safety related subjects as part of a degree
program in Industrial Hygiene and Safety.
1975 - 1976
Research Triangle Institute
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
Industrial Hygienist, Operations Analysis Division
Directed contract research programs involving procurement and performance of
research studies of an occupational health nature for OSHA, NIOSH, and private
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concerns. Planned and conducted comprehensive industrial hygiene surveys in
steel processing and plastics and resins industries. Investigated current
engineering control state-of-the-art in the textile industry. Directed and
participated in evaluation of occupational health statistics regarding chemical
hazard exposures and biological agents for NIOSH. Participated in other studies
involving ventilation design, thermal stress measurements, and other
environmental parameters.
1973 - 1974
Tennessee Valley Authority
Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Industrial Hygienist, Special Projects Section,
Industrial Hygiene Branch
Planned and performed surveys of physical, chemical, and biological hazards
present in the occupational environment. Recommended appropriate control
measures for each hazard. Designed local exhaust ventilation systems for
various industrial processes associated with construction and operation of fossilfired steam plants, hydroelectric generators, nuclear generating plants, fertilizer
manufacture, and tunneling operations necessary in pumped-storage generation
projects. Designed and tested comfort ventilation air conditioning systems for
office building, control rooms, and equipment rooms. Performed effluent stack
sampling in industrial particulate control systems and recommended proper air
cleaning devices. Developed a computer based storage and retrieval system for
environmental and health data.
1972
Leave of absence to obtain MS in Industrial Hygiene at Texas A&M University,
College Station, Texas.
1971 - 1972
Tennessee Valley Authority
Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Industrial Hygiene Engineering Associate, Special Projects Section,
Industrial Hygiene Branch
Performed surveys of various hazards present in the occupational environment,
utilizing instrumentation to assess noise, chemical agents, heat, illumination, and
other workplace hazards.
EDUCATION
1972 - 1973
Master of Science in Industrial Hygiene
Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
1965 - 1969
Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering
Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama
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PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
American Industrial Hygiene Association
- National President 1999
- Tidewater Local Section President 1982
- Executive Committee 1982 - 1984
American Academy of Industrial Hygiene
- National President 2005
American Board of Industrial Hygiene
- Director 1985 – 1990
- Secretary 1989 – 1990
American Society of Safety Engineers
American Welding Society
Organization Resources Counselors
National Safety Council
American Society of Safety Engineers
Virginia Association of Manufacturers
American Shipbuilding Association
National Fire Protection Association
Member – Technical gas Hazards Committee
Virginia Self-Insurers Association, Inc.
Department of Defense Blue Ribbon Safety Panel
TECHNICAL AND PROFESSIONAL COMMITTEES
2012 - Present
Chairman - Environmental, Health, Safety, and Security Committee, Virginia
Manufacturers Association, Richmond, Va.
2012 - Present
Chairman – Workers Compensation Committee, Virginia Chamber of Commerce,
Richmond, Va.
2010 - Present
Chairman – Peninsula Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA),
Newport News, Va.
2008 - Present
American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), Chair - Government Affairs
2007 - Present
American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), Council on Professional Affairs
2003 - Present
Commonwealth of Virginia Radiation Health Advisory Board (appointed by
Governor Mark Warner)
2003 - Present
Chairman, OSHA Maritime Advisory Committee for Occupational Safety
and Health (MACOSH)
1999 - Present
Virginia Self-Insurers Association, President 2004
1998 - Present
Virginia Manufacturers Association, Environmental Outreach Committee
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1994 - Present
OSHA Maritime Advisory Committee for Occupational Safety and Health,
Chairman 2003 - present
1992 - Present
Executive Committee, Marine Section of the National Safety Council
1992 - Present
Health and Safety Committee, Virginia Manufacturers Association
1991 - 2000
Director, American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA); Secretary 1994-1996,
President June 1999-June 2000
1989 - Present
OSHA Shipyard Employment Standards Advisory Committee (one of 15 Health
and Safety experts selected by Assistant Secretary of Labor to assist in revision
of the OSHA Maritime Health and Safety Standards)
1985 - 1991
Director, American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH); Secretary 1989-1991
1981 - 1988
Health and Safety Committee, American Welding Society (Fumes and Gases
Sub-committee)
1983 - 1984
OSHA Workplace Health Programs Conference, Washington, D.C. (one of 48
labor, management, and OSHA Health Professionals in the country invited by
Assistant Secretary of Labor Auchter to identify essential elements of workplace
health and safety programs)
1983 - Present
Environmental Health Advisory Committee, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Va.
1983 - Present
Shipbuilders Council of America Safety and Health Committee
1982 - 1984
Health and Safety Curriculum Advisory Board, Thomas Nelson Community
College, Hampton, Va.
1982 - 1984
OSHA Maritime Standards Task Force (worked with OSHA Region III and the
National Standards Office to revise the health and safety portions of the OSHA
Maritime Standards)
1982 - Present
ORC Task Force Committees (work with various technical committees on
occupational safety and health issues)
CERTIFICATIONS
1977
Certified Industrial Hygienist, Comprehensive Practice, American Board of
Industrial Hygiene Certificate No. 1207
1978
Certified Safety Professional, The Board of Certified Safety Professionals,
Certificate No. 5772
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HONORARY ACADEMIC SOCIETIES
Phi Kappa Phi, Texas A&M Chapter
OTHER AWARDS
1970
Honor Graduate, U.S. Army Signal Corps School, Fort Gordon, Georgia
2010 - 2011
Charles Cabbertson Award, American Society of Safety Engineers for
Outstanding Voluntary Service