Jim Rhone – Class of 1970

James P. Rhone graduated from Burke in 1970. While at Burke, Jim was captain of the gymnastics team; class representative in the Student Council; member of the O-Club; played violin in the orchestra and spring musical; and a member of the banquet committee. He also played bass guitar in the group called the TIERS. The TIERS played for many dances at Burke and St. Luke United Methodist Church.

Jim fondly reflects on his young journey at Burke, surrounded by friends and acquaintances, some of whom he stays in touch with today. He also acknowledges that maturing into manhood takes a village of people, which makes him grateful for Coach Larry Jacobson’s impact on his life. Through his example and influence, Coach Jacobson molded many of Burke High School’s young men into better people.

After attending the University of Nebraska at Lincoln upon graduation from Burke, Jim accepted an opportunity to explore his love for the arts as a journalist and photographer at the Omaha Star newspaper. However, after a few years, he returned to his first passion, science. Jim’s love for science was instilled early in life by his father, a research chemist, who Jim admired and respected.

Jim worked at Omaha Public Power District’s Fort Calhoun Nuclear Power Plant in the chemical and environmental sciences section as a biologist (entomology and ichthyology) and project leader for 9 years. During this time, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and was inducted into the Tri-Beta Iota-Omega Biology Honor Society at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

For over 18 years, Jim sojourned across the United States providing environmental radiological surveillance at commercial nuclear power plants. Initially, he consulted in the areas of chemical, nuclear, and process engineering, then transitioned to developing and teaching chemistry and health physics curriculums. He also provided emergency preparedness consultation at the Laguna Verdi Nuclear Power Plant in Mexico. In addition, Jim has 22 publications in the areas of environmental radiological surveillance, entomology, ichthyology, paleontology, organic chemistry, and emergency management.

Jim joined TechSource, Inc. in 2007. Currently, he is the Senior Vice President and Managing Director of the National Capital Region Operations for TechSource, Inc. TechSource provides a wide range of discipline-specific program managers, engineers, and scientists to the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Nuclear Security Administration. Over the past 16 years, Jim has witnessed TechSource grow from 200 to 500 employees and consultants. For the past 2 years, The Albuquerque Journal and The Washington Post has named TechSource, Inc. one of the TOP Work Places in New Mexico and Washington, DC.

Jim and his wife, Jackie, live in Montgomery Village, Maryland. They are parents to Jason and Saisha. And they are blessed to have 8 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.