Wicks is a Senior Consulting Scientist in the Savannah River National Laboratory, where he has worked for almost 40 years. He received his PhD in 1974 in Metallurgy & Materials Science from MIT, his MS in 1971 from Harvard University in Applied Physics & Engineering and a SM in Materials Science and BS in Engineering Science from Florida State University. Wicks has been involved for more than 35 years in many aspects of glass science, development of sol-gel glass composites, and management of high level radioactive waste. He is considered an 'internationally recognized authority on the vitrification of nuclear wastes'. Wicks has mentored more than 50 people. In addition to solving some of our site’s most important technical challenges, he will leave a legacy in the people he has mentored, coached and encouraged.