Ronald L. Kathren received his BS from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1957. He received his Masters of Science from the University of Pittsburgh in 1962 and also from the University of California, Berkley in 1964. His scientific work has been largely in the area of applied health physics, with emphasis on radiation dosimetry and instrumentation, environmental radioactivity, and the history of radiation protection. He is a diplomat of the American Board of Health Physics and the American Academy of Environmental Engineers. Mr. Kathren has extensive experience in the field of health physics and has held prestigious positions on numerous health physics related committees. He was president of the Health Physics Society between 1988 and 1990. He has also been director of the United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries since 1988. Mr. Kathren has authored and co-authored several scientific books including Radioactivity in the Environment and Radiation Protection. He also has served as a consultant to the US Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards and Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste.

The mission of the Health Physics Society is to work for safer and more secure laboratories.