Taos County Sheriff’s Office stated Tuesday (March 22) that they have identified the body found in the Río Grande Gorge last Friday (March 18) as belonging to a nuclear scientist from Washington state.

Undersheriff Ed Romero said that Rodger Lynn Dickey, 56, died after he jumped from the Gorge Bridge. Dickey, a scientist working on contract with Sandía Laboratory, was originally from Richland, Wash.

“He’d been working in New Mexico for a while,” Romero said. “He did leave a note, but it does not specifically give his intentions.”

Romero said that a vendor setting up at the bridge for the day called the police when Dickey’s rental car was found parked in the middle of the bridge in the westbound lane.

By Chandra Johnson
Wednesday, March 23, 2011 8:08 AM MDT


Rodger Dickey's Summary:

Mr. Dickey is a senior nuclear engineer with over 30 years of experience in support of the design, construction, start-up, and operation of commercial and government nuclear facilities. His expertise is in nuclear safety programmatic assessment, regulatory compliance, hazard assessment, safety analysis, and safety basis documentation. He has completed project tasks in nuclear engineering design and application, nuclear waste management, project management, and risk management. His technical support experience includes nuclear facility licensing, radiation protection, health and safety program assessments, operational readiness assessments, and systems engineering. His education includes a B.S. in nuclear engineering from Kansas State University and a Master of Engineering in nuclear engineering from the University of Virginia. He is a registered Professional Engineer in nuclear engineering and in mechanical engineering, a Certified Safety Professional, and a Certified Project Management Professional
Specialties

Nuclear Engineering; Safety Engineering

Link with more Info Below


Roger Lynn Dickey's Obituary"

DICKEY -- Rodger Lynn Dickey (nee Selbe) - 1955-2011. Born in Wichita, Kansas, Rodger graduated Mulvane High School in Mulvane, Kansas in 1972. He worked to put himself through Kansas State University, graduating cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering in 1977. He then went on to receive his Masters of Nuclear Engineering from the University of Virginia in 1979. He espoused the philosophies of the University's founder, Thomas Jefferson, and enjoyed living in one of the historical buildings on the campus. Following graduation, Rodger worked throughout the nuclear industry, most recently at Sandia National Laboratory in Albuquerque, New Mexico. As a nuclear safety professional with a PE license in both Nuclear Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, Rodger deeply valued ethics and adhered to the highest safety standards the guiding principles of his professional career. Rodger earned the admiration of his colleagues for both his technical ability and team-building and was a member of many professional organizations, including the American Nuclear Society. In his personal life, Rodger was a loving husband and devoted friend. He was truly a warm, compassionate human being, who treasured close relationships and took an active interest in the well-being of all those around him. He was especially interested in reaching out to the young people in the family to inspire them to learn about the world, sciences such as astronomy and the humanities. Rodger's life-long love of hiking and snowshoeing began as a Boy Scout. He amazed his family with his canoeing skills, and was a lifetime member of the Sierra Club. As a member of the Tupper Family Association whose ancestors included Prime Minister Charles Tupper of Canada, Rodger was proud of his Yankee and maritime roots and enjoyed occasional times at sea. He also enjoyed his many travels with his beloved wife, Ginny, including many visits to the National Parks and UNESCO World Heritage Sites, from Antarctica to the Arctic. Coming back home was made all the more special by the opportunity to reconnect with beloved family pets. Rodger particularly loved hosting dinner parties for friends,