Board Member Bios
Peter James Atherton
U.S. Navy veteran (Lieutenant). Worked on Westinghouse Navy Nuclear Submarine Program and Shippingport Fast Breeder Reactor
B.S., Electrical Engineering; M.S., Nuclear Engineering
- Reviewed electrical, instrumentation, control and fire protection system designs of civilian nuclear power plants for the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission and Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- Identified potential catastrophic design problems with Maine Yankee Atomic Power Station that contributed to its permanent shutdown
Joseph W. Griggs
B. A., History and English; M.Ed., Elementary School Administration; Ed.D., Educational Psychology
School Mental Health Specialist (retired) with the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) in Rockville, Maryland (1975-85)
- Planned and conducted school mental health workshops for teachers and school administrators throughout the Nation.
- Senior Research Associate in the Psychology Department of the Educational Research Council of America in Cleveland, Ohio (1972-75).
- Planned and conducted educational psychology workshops for teachers and administrators in approximately 25 towns and communities
- Taught educational psychology classes as Professor at Central State University in Edmond, Oklahoma (1964-72).
Dr. James Murtagh, Jr.
Physician (Doctor of Pulmonology) awarded three patents for DNA detection.
- Editor, Op Ed NewsAuthor of more than 40 articles published in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the New York Post, Op Ed News, Huffington Post and around the world.
- Contributor to books on bioethics and general medicine.
Ern Reynolds, J.D. (Legal Counsel)
Attorney and adjunct college instructor (computer security) at the U.S. Naval Academy
B.A., University of Virginia; J.D., University of Kentucky
- Founding trustee, Information Security Foundation
- American Society for Cybernetics Executive Committee
- Nominated by the Public Law Library Oversight Committee for the President’s Call to Service Award
- Author of “Whistleblower Remedies: Counseling the Principled Dissenter”
Anna Isabelle Knecht (Mrs. John Knecht)
“I am a widow and wife who stood by her husband, John E. Knecht a courageous whistleblower through the good times and the bad times of his life until his passing on October 20, 2007.”
B.B.A., Business Administration-Management, New Mexico State University; M.Ed., Reading, Grand Canyon University, M.Ed. – Bilingual/Multicultural Education, Northern Arizona University
- Pro Literacy of America – tutor illiterate adults in reading and language arts.
- Twenty years teaching experience.
- National Association for Bilingual/ESL Educators
- National Education Association
John E. Knecht (Honorary Member, deceased)
CPA, Chief of Internal Review, U.S. Army Proving Ground, Yuma, ArizonaWas fired by superiors after he informed them of time card fraud at the APG. Perceiving a coverup, Knecht took the case to the Inspector General of the Army
Without investigating, the Inspector General destroyed the evidence Knecht provided–apparently unaware that Knecht had retained copies.
Knecht spent years pursuing his claims with members of Congress; but, “Each time, he has come away disappointed, with empty handshakes and vague promises from politicians and their staffs.” – Jack Anderson, Parade Magazine.
Dr. Donald Soeken told Parade Magazine, “What is frustrating about John’s case is that, for every word he utters, there’s a document to prove what he’s saying.”
Linda M. Lewis
Emergency planner (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1992-2005; Argonne National Laboratory, 1989-92)
B.S., Emergency Administration and Planning; B.S. Geosciences.
- Developed national-level policies for WMD emergency response and recovery
- Evaluated federal, state and local preparedness for nuclear, radiological and chemical emergencies
- Conceived, and was lead author of, the 1992 “Recovery Plan Workbook,” developed for the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program
- Warned of flawed federal preparedness that led to chaos and tragedy in the 9/11 attacks and Hurricane Katrina
