ALBERT NELSON

After graduation I enlisted in the Navy. After almost two years of schools and training, I served as a nuclear qualified Machinist Mate on the USS Long Beach CGN-9 doing three tours in Vietnam. In 1971, I met a Navy nurse who I would marry in 1972 and 51 years later she is still the love of my life. After being discharged I enrolled at Montana State University to study Mechanical Engineering. I was in the Navy Reserve for two years in Billings and then transferred to the Montana National Guard. I graduated as the Distinguished Graduate from the Montana Military Academy in 1977 and was commissioned a second lieutenant Armor. I would spend 13 years in the Montana and Washington National Guard and retired as a Major. After graduation from MSU, I spent the next 25 years ascending the engineering ranks from engineer in training to principal engineer to engineering manager working at Department of Energy sites: Hanford in Tri-Cities, WA; Lawrence Livermore Labs in Livermore, CA; and, the Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site in Denver. Shoe horned in there was a brief stint at Plant Vogtle Nuclear Plant in Georgia. Along the way I picked up a MA in Applied Behavioral Science from Whitworth College and a Masters in Environmental Policy and Management from the University of Denver. After Rocky Flats closed in 2001, I worked for the City of Westminster, CO as an environmental consultant for the cleanup of Rocky Flats until 2006. Retirement then called. Camping, fishing, traveling, grandkids, brewing beer, BBQ competitive cook and BBQ judge take up my time now.

Simpler times. Good people, good friends, good memories.