After supporting the Rocky Flats Site in Colorado for a total of 22 years, Linda Kaiser retired this month. In her most recent role as the Rocky Flats contractor lead supporting the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Legacy Management (LM) team, she expertly managed and facilitated all site activities, from monitoring and maintenance to safety and environmental compliance — doing what was needed to ensure the site remains protective of human health and the environment.

When Linda Kaiser began working at Rocky Flats as a contractor in 1998, she didn't know she’d be involved in the site's stewardship for the rest of her career. 

"I had no expectation I would be at the Rocky Flats site after cleanup was finished," Kaiser said, referring to the cleanup of contamination resulting from nuclear weapons production. "I came over to help the LM team at Rocky Flats for a little while and just never left.” 

Kaiser has spent her entire professional life working with DOE. 

After earning a mechanical engineering degree from Colorado State University, she specialized in decontamination and environmental restoration of the nation's nuclear sites at Idaho National Laboratory and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, both of which are managed by DOE. This experience prepared her for her future role at Rocky Flats. 

"While each DOE site is different, many of their cleanup and environmental restoration needs are similar,” Kaiser said. “So, I was eager to join the Rocky Flats team and contribute to its stewardship mission."

Kaiser and her team regularly conducted site inspections and tested water samples from the site's groundwater and streams. They also reintroduced native plant species to the site and used specific insects to combat invasive weeds. The team will maintain these efforts after Kaiser’s departure, and results will continue to be shared online and at the Rocky Flats Stewardship Council's quarterly meetings.

Kaiser and her team also looked for ways to improve stewardship processes at Rocky Flats. For example, they upgraded one of the site's underperforming groundwater treatment systems to a solar-powered system that meets all treatment standards. The team earned a Presidential Award for innovation and sustainability for implementation of the solar treatment system.

Kaiser emphasized that all her successes are shared.

"I didn’t carry out any of these accomplishments — my team members did," she said. "While I helped them find funding and navigate obstacles, they are truly responsible for this great work. I’ve been blessed to collaborate with so many incredible people here."

Kaiser's people-first mindset with the Rocky Flats team also helped establish positive relationships and transparent communication with residents and stakeholders near the site. As a Coloradan, she provides a unique blend of expert knowledge and local insight.

"I’ve called Colorado home since I was nine years old and have spent most of my life living in the state," she said. "After working at Rocky Flats for more than 20 years, I can say with confidence that there isn’t any reason for people to be concerned.”

"I believe in the science and that the cleanup is protective of human health and the environment,” she said. “But most of all, I believe in the LM team managing the Rocky Flats site today, because they are incredibly committed to ensuring this cleanup remains effective."

In addition to leading the Rocky Flats Site team, Kaiser has also helped lead the way for women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.

During her college years, Kaiser was often the only woman in the room. Though more women joined STEM fields as the years went by, men still made up the majority of her colleagues. But this never stopped Kaiser from fulfilling her goals. Instead, it motivated her to set her own parameters for success.

"When I began working in engineering, it was at a time when women were just starting to say, ‘You know, I think I can do that.’" she said. "So, I set pretty high standards for myself and did the very best I could to meet them. That seemed to be all I needed to do to prove myself."

While Kaiser acknowledges that STEM has evolved, and women who enter these fields today work with many more peers now than they did years ago, she still thinks the situation could improve. Women make up less than one third of the STEM workforce, so Kaiser encourages girls and young women to embrace STEM fields and the professional opportunities they offer.

"To girls and women who are considering a career in STEM, I would say go for it. It’s a great career, and I’ve had a lot of fun."