Ken Niswonger, M.S. is a veteran hazardous materials chemist who has functioned within a regulatory agency to oversee operations at some of the most complex facilities in the United States.  Mr. Niswonger was responsible for the oversight of the decommissioning of Plutonium and Uranium Operations Buildings at the former Rocky Flats Plant, clean-up and remediation at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal, on-going large scale chemical operations at the Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facility at Last Chance, Colorado, and chemical agent storage and response operations at Pueblo Chemical Depot.  He has been involved in the permitting, design, and planning of operations for the destruction of the chemical agent at the Pueblo Chemical Agent Pilot Plant (“PCAPP”).  Mr. Niswonger has been the technical lead in the execution of search warrants to collect evidence of environmental crime, and he has testified as an expert at trial on the findings of these investigations.

Mr. Niswonger has worked to further the understanding of the release of hazardous materials into the environment by researching and developing analytical techniques to measure the vapor intrusion of volatile solvents from soil and groundwater into residences and commercial properties, of known carcinogens into groundwater from former aerospace industries, and defined techniques to differentiate naturally occurring and synthetic Uranium in soil and groundwater.  Mr. Niswonger has been the resident expert in hazardous waste treatment at not only permitted facilities, but has worked with every major fire department in the State of Colorado, every major HAZMAT team including the Colorado State Patrol HAZMAT units, and every bomb squad team in the state to identify and facilitate response actions to minimize, contain, and deactivate materials involved in an emergency.  Mr. Niswonger is a recognized expert in incidents involving reactive and toxic chemicals, including professional, academic, and clandestine laboratories.   

Mr. Niswonger holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry and Biology from the University of Southern Colorado, and has completed graduate level course work in Chemistry and Forensic Chemistry at both the University of Denver and the University of Indiana.  Prior to this he had completed training and accumulated experience in the military to perform as both a medic and a radiological specialist.  He performed as the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge, Technical Instructor, and On-the-Job Trainer in these crafts.  He has been working with hazardous substances throughout his working life, and as a professional chemist in professional and industrial environments his entire professional career.  Mr. Niswonger has provided training to high school science teachers, professional researchers, industrial chemists, firefighters, hazmat technicians, and bomb technicians throughout the State of Colorado on safe chemical management and handling.