Awards & Scholarships

Michael J. Sapko received a B.S. and M.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh in 1972 and 1976, respectively. He began his career with the U.S. Bureau of Mines in 1972 in the Fires, Explosions and Explosives Group of the Pittsburgh Research Center. Sapko quickly ascended to Supervisory Chemical Engineer, a position he held from 1981 to 1988. During his tenure, the Bureau was a driving force in the expansion of laboratory and large-scale gas and dust explosion research, the development of methods for rapid assessment of coal and rock dust mixtures, and innovations in the prevention, control and suppression of underground fires and explosions. Mike transitioned to NIOSH as the Bureau was reconfigured in 1996 and served as a Senior Research Physical Scientist until 2007. He is currently a technical consultant under the auspices of Sapko Consulting Services, LLC.

Sapko is a member of International Society of Explosives Engineers, The Combustion Institute, Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration and EuropoEx: European Information Center for Explosion Protection. He holds three U.S. patents, three R&D 100 Awards for excellence in innovation, and has authored over 100 research publications. NIOSH recently appointed Michael J. Sapko to a team of safety experts including NIOSH Director John Howard and former Erskine Ramsey Medal Award winner Lewis Wade to conduct an independent evaluation of the MSHA's internal review of the April 5, 2010 Upper Big Branch explosion.