ROGER P. WESSEL

1931 - 2023

WESSEL, Roger P. June 22, 1931 - June 2, 2023 Was born in New York, NY. He graduated from The New York State Maritime College, Fort Schuyler, as a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering in 1954. He went on to study advanced thermodynamics, nuclear engineering, and mathematics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Connecticut. Roger served as an Officer in the United States Naval Reserve from 1954-1966. In 1954, Roger was handpicked by Admiral Hyman G. Rickover to join a select group of nuclear engineers, who helped Admiral Rickover introduce nuclear propulsion to the United States Navy. They designed, tested and built the Navy's first nuclear-powered surface ships and submarines. In this capacity, Roger was placed in the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation, CT. There, he worked on the submarines U.S.S. Seawolf and U.S.S. Skate, with critical oversight of the design, testing and commissioning of the nuclear powerplants on both submarines. He also worked on the historic submarine USS George Washington, the first of the Polaris-firing submarines. Roger served his country with distinction during the Cuban Missile crisis of 1962, where he was assigned to a special role. His work in those days helped to ensure his country's readiness and to bring about a peaceful resolution. After 1966, Roger transitioned to civilian nuclear engineering. In 1968, he joined the Nuclear Division of Stone & Webster Engineering Corporation, Boston, MA, where he was responsible for major engineering projects at nuclear power stations in the USA and abroad. Roger retired from Stone & Webster in 1990, and went into private consultancy on nuclear energy matters. He is survived by his wife, Maureen, his son, Paul, his daughter, Susan and five grandchildren.

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