Cary Crawford is a Project Scientist and Staff Assistant in the Safeguards Department of Mason & Hanger - Silas Mason Co., Inc. in Amarillo, Texas, where he performs statistical analysis and administrative support for programs providing safeguards for the assembly and dismantling of nuclear weapons. Cary's department is responsible for the control and accounting of nuclear material and weapons parts by weight and location at the Amarillo site. This is done through statistical sampling of the inventories in adherence with Department of Energy (DOE) standards, which require that the inventory data bases be reconciled daily. Without statistical sampling, company personnel would be exposed to radiation on a frequent basis. It is Cary's job to set up the plans for sampling the nuclear material inventory and to develop statistics that take into account physical properties such as security guards and cameras. The goal is to reduce the number of samples needed and the amount of radiation exposure.
Cary has been with the company for three years and recently took over some administrative duties. He is in charge of a program that places tamper indicating devices on nuclear material, helping to ensure the integrity of the material stored at the site. As director of this program, he is responsible for its implementation, budget and interface with the DOE. Cary has enjoyed the opportunities which come with working in industry and the chance to use mathematics in practical applications. As part of his job he uses a range of statistical methods, trend analysis, statistical software packages, and computer simulations.
A background in probability and statistics, discrete mathematics, and modeling and simulation is required for Cary's position. He found his position with Mason & Hanger three months after receiving his masters degree. His initial contact for the position was made at a job fair he found out about through the university placement office. Although he did not talk to career counselors when starting his career, he feels he could have benefited from consultation and advises students take advantage of their career center. In general, Cary recommends that someone interested in industry think through their future and tie in a minor relevant to their goal. This may include incorporating electives that apply mathematics and point toward their goal.; examples are engineering, physics, or marketing,
Cary has a M.S. in applied mathematics from the University of Oklahoma and a B.S. in mathematics from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. Although interested in a job in industry or government from the beginning, he also enjoys teaching mathematics courses on a part-time basis for Amarillo Junior College. In addition, he teaches extension courses at his plant and at a nearby prison. He finds teaching at the prison to be a rewarding experience.
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