Richard Holt is recognized worldwide for his contributions to the understanding of the mechanisms of radiation damage and deformation in nuclear materials, contributing significantly to the safe and efficient operation of both CANDU and light water reactors. After a distinguished industrial career, he conceived and developed the program of the NSERC-UNENE IRC in Nuclear Materials at Queen's University where he has developed the Reactor Materials Testing Laboratory (RMTL); a unique reactor simulation facility for the study of radiation damage. His work has been recognized by prestigious awards from the American Society for Testing Materials and the Metallurgical Society of CIM.