Dr. Mark D. DeHart is the founding director of the Nuclear Science and Engineering Department and graduate program at Abilene Christian University (ACU) and an associate professor in the Onstead College of Science and Engineering. With more than 36 years of experience in nuclear engineering, he brings extensive technical expertise and leadership to the development of ACU’s first Master's/Ph.D. programs.
Prior to joining ACU, Dr. DeHart held senior positions at Idaho National Laboratory and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. At ORNL, he led the development of modern lattice‑physics methods and was the primary author of the NEWT code and the TRITON depletion sequence within the SCALE system—tools that remain widely used in reactor analysis. At INL, he directed teams conducting advanced multiphysics simulations, including nuclear‑thermal‑propulsion reactor concepts for NASA and analyses supporting advanced test, transient, and micro‑reactor systems.
A Fellow of the American Nuclear Society, Dr. DeHart has authored more than 200 publications in reactor physics, radiation transport, and safety analysis. He has held numerous leadership roles, including chair of the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency’s International Reactor Physics Experiment Evaluation Project, and currently chairs the ANS 19.5 Standard Working Group. At ACU, he is shaping a forward‑looking curriculum that integrates advanced reactor technology, regulatory insight, and hands‑on research.