Wendy Chernesky Renno, PhD

emsi cadre wendy chenneskey renno
Cadre

Bringing an exceptional wealth of nuclear and radiological incident response knowledge to the EMSI team, Wendy has spent over 11 years working in a variety of field and staff positions related to radiological emergency response. Prior to joining EMSI, she spent the previous seven years working in radiological emergency response with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), where she supported DOE’s leadership and management of the Federal Radiological Monitoring and Assessment Center (FRMAC). The FRMAC provides an operational framework for coordinating federal radiological monitor­ing and assessment activities during a response to a radiological emergency.

Wendy’s operational experience is diverse and enables her to bring a unique perspective on scientific issues in operational settings. As a FRMAC Assessment Manager during the Japan Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant emergency, Wendy was heavily involved in the creation of many of the FRMAC radiological data products that were used to support decision making by the U.S Department of Defense, U.S. Department of State, White House, and Government of Japan. Her exemplary leadership and professional knowledge were evident as she oversaw a myriad of responsibilities, to include health physics dose assessments; calibration, methodology, and evaluation of gamma spectroscopy of air filter samples; and an innate ability to brief large audiences on a very complex incident.

As the FRMAC Liaison focus group chair and the FRMAC Liaison course supervisor, Wendy was critical to the gathering of best practices from the field, then developing and delivering critical FRMAC Liaison training to those who would fill those positions in a crisis. In addition to these roles, she has served as a FRMAC Technical Team Lead, a FRMAC Assessment Scientist, a FRMAC Laboratory Analysis Manager, and a Mission Manager with the Aerial Measuring Systems (AMS).
A staunch supporter of readiness, Wendy routinely supports radiation emergency preparedness drills and training throughout the country through her meticulous planning and executing large scale exercises. During the Southern Exposure 2016 exercise, she served as the senior FRMAC controller during the largest nuclear power plant exercise in over twenty years, and also supported as the working group chair of the Southern Exposure Public Health and Environment planning group. Additionally, she has provided extensive support to FEMA Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) Ingestion Pathway Exercises (IPX) with nuclear power plants. With EMSI, Wendy continues to support the DOE radiological emergency response program and FRMAC, serving as a consultant and exercise planner.

A well versed expert on a myriad of radiological issues, Wendy has published a multitude of articles, manuals, and journal contributions since 2007. Additionally, she has provided presentations nation-wide; to include a presentation delivered to the 56th Annual Meeting of the Health Physics Society on the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant emergency and plenary sessions at the annual National Radiological Emergency Preparedness Conference.

Wendy earned both her Doctor of Radiochemistry and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.