The Commission selected Aldon (Al) Beale to receive the 2022 Richard S. Hodes Award. Mr. Beale was the inventor and first to patent soft-sided IP-1 rated waste packaging for containing and disposing of hazardous and radioactive materials. His career engineering soft side packaging began with the Department of Energy at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory in August 1998. Traditional methods for packaging waste were forever changed by his innovative thinking, passion for design and engineering, and commitment to safety. For over two decades, Mr. Beale’s designs continue to be used across North America in the nuclear industry by providing reliable, safe, and cost-effective alternatives to traditional metal waste containers.
