Angela Ellen Leek

Biography

Angela Leek, PhD, CHP is a recognized leader in radiological protection with over two decades of experience. Dr. Leek served for over 16 years as Iowa’s Radiation Control Program Director, overseeing regulatory operations, licensing, inspection, and emergency preparedness statewide. In this role, she was appointed by the Governor to represent Iowa in key national and federal partnerships, including with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Organization of Agreement States, and the Council of State Governments–Midwestern Radioactive Materials Transportation Committee. Dr. Leek has held leadership positions in several radiation protection organizations, including the Health Physics Society (HPS), Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD, and is a member of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP), where she contributes to Program Area Committee 3 (PAC-3) focused on emergency preparedness and recovery.

Dr. Leek holds a PhD in Occupational Health and Safety from Iowa State University, where her research examined the impact of mental models for radiation risk perception on responder decision-making during radiological emergencies. She also earned an MS in Radiation Health Physics from Oregon State University and is a Certified Health Physicist through the American Academy of Health Physics. Her academic work has led to multiple peer-reviewed publications on topics such as risk perception, protective action decision-making, and communication and situational awareness strategies during radiological and nuclear incidents. Dr. Leek contributed a chapter on nuclear emergency preparedness and response in The Oxford Handbook of Nuclear Security (2023) and regularly presents radiation protection at national conferences, trainings, and exercises.

Internationally, Angela has supported radiological emergency preparedness efforts in the Republic of Korea, Thailand, and Latvia, and represented the CRCPD at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference in Vienna. She continues to support national radiological preparedness efforts through initiatives with FEMA, DOE/NNSA, and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Today, as the founder of Quantum Radiation Solutions, she provides expert consulting built on decades of applied experience in program leadership, emergency response, and regulatory strategy.

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