Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Tom Baillieul can be contacted at tbaillieulaamaxxdcom
Country of Service: Botswana
Training Group: Six
Cities you served in: Lobatse
Arrival Year: 1971
Departure Year: 1973
Work Description:
Served on the professional staff of the Botswana geological Survey. Ran the mineralogy lab and conducted research on mineral resources, and the origin of features in the Kalahari Desert.
Other Countries you served in, Training Group Name Arrival Year, Departure Year, Work Description:
Also worked as in-country staff in Botswana in 1976 to train a new volunteer group.
Bring us up to date on your life after the peace corps:
Returned to Botswana in 1976 and worked for a mineral exploration firm. Building on that experience, I landed a job in the U.S. helping to identify uranium resources antionwide. From there it was only a short jump to working for the U.S. Government researching sites for disposal of high-level nuclear waste. That effort allowed me to move into envirnmental studies for the government and project management for the clean-up of former nuclear facilities. I retired from Federal service in 2003 and am now a part-time consultant on nuclear waste issues - as well as being an awrad-winning artist (painter).
Any thoughts you have now looking back on peace corps days?:
It was a defining experience in my life. My wife and I were married in Botswana in 1972, and our relationship is still going strong - largely because of the experiences we shared.
Anyone you are looking for or would like to hear from?:
Anyone from my PC group - Tom Butynski, Steve Lowery, Park Verner, and the Wachtel family.
Originally posted: November 28, 2005
