Navy RHO/RS Retired Affairs CDR Joe DeCicco
Contact Information:
Accomplishments During Service:
-A few firsts:
First RHO at Naval Aerospace and Regional Medical Center Pensacola
First RHO at Naval Hospital Orlando
First Officer-in-Charge of the Naval Dosimetry Center
-Transferred the Naval Dosimetry responsibilities from a department in the Naval Hospital Bethesda to a Detachment of the Naval Environmental Health Center. Participated in the Navy’s transition from film badges to the four-chip TLD system, accomplishing NVLAP accreditation in all categories in its initial attempt.
-Involved with the movement of the Navy Radiation Exposure Registry from a remote mainframe to an in-house server database, and with the streamlining and computerizing of the dosimetry reporting procedures.
-Managed the radiation safety programs at two of the three largest Naval hospitals
- At Naval Hospital, San Diego, developed an in-house urinalysis procedure to test for tritium intakes resulting from mortar-sight breakage at the nearby Marine base
Other:
Certified Health Physicist by the American Board of Health Physics
Bachelors Degree in Physics from the University of Notre Dame
Masters Degree in Radiological Health from Rutgers – The State University
RHO assignments included:
|
Commands |
Dates |
|
Naval Dosimetry Center |
August 1986 – February 1992 |
|
Naval Hospital San Diego |
March 1983 – July 1986 |
|
Naval Hospital Orlando |
September 1979 – February 1983 |
|
Naval Aerospace and Regional Medical Center Pensacola |
September 1977 – August 1979 |
|
USS Simon Lake (AS-33) |
April 1974 – August 1977 |
|
National Naval Medical Center Bethesda |
January 1972 – March 1974 |
Awards:
Meritorious Service Award, National Defense (two), Overseas Campaign, Sea Service Deployment
Accomplishments Since Retirement:
Decided that public service was the way to go, and continued endeavors in the federal government.
Held the positions of Treasurer, Secretary, and President of the Lions Club of Olney, Inc.
Presenter/participant in the local health physics chapter’s efforts in the Workshops for Teachers, developing a medical presentation (in conjunction with a current MSC health physicist).
Words of Wisdom:
"I never really appreciated the full extent of professionalism, dedication, competence, and orderliness there is in the Navy until after I retired, and began working in the civilian community. The Navy has a proud tradition; embrace it, enjoy it."
"As you grow older, life does not get any easier ... however, it should get more interesting."
"Don’t lose your sense of humor; and smile! It makes people wonder what you have been up to."