Dr. Melburn Dayton

Dr. Melburn Dayton is an assistant professor in the Department of Occupational and Health at Murray State University. He earned his BS from East Tennessee State University. He then worked with the Knox County Health Department as an environmental specialist. Dr. Dayton was then commissioned as an officer with the US Coast Guard in 1998 where he worked as a Marine Inspector, Chief of Response and a Safety Officer. After completing an interservice transfer into the US Public Health Service in 2003, Dr. Dayton continued to work with the US Coast Guard filling various health and safety roles including, Safety and Environmental Health Officer, Compliance Division Chief, IH/EH Division Chief as well as various other roles. Dr. Dayton completed two masters’ degrees. One at Hunter College and another from Penn State University. He completed his doctorate degree (EdD) at Liberty University in 2024. Dr. Dayton retired as a Captain in 2024 after 26 years of honorable service. He holds certification as a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM), Certified Instructional Trainer (CIT), Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian (REHS/RS), Authorized OSHA Trainer (AOT) for General Industry and Maritime Industry, and a Master Training Specialist (MTS).

Courses taught at Murray State

OSH 425 Physical Agents
OSH 452 Systems Approach to Hazard Control
OSH 599 Occupational Safety and Health Foundations

Education

Ed.D. Curriculum & Instruction, Liberty University, 2024
M.H.S. Master of Homeland Security (Public Health Preparedness), Pennsylvania State University, 2011
M.S. Environmental and Occupational Health Science, Hunter College 2002
B.S. Environmental Health, East Tennessee State University, 1993

Professional experience prior to Murray State

US Coast Guard/ US Public Health Service 1998 – 2024
Knox County Health Department 1993 - 1998

Certifications

REHS/RS 2006
CHMM 2007
CSP 2022
CIT 2022
AOT 2022
MTS 2022

Professional organizations

BCSP 2021
IHMM 2007
AIHA 2003
NEHA 2001

Honors and awards

US Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medal (2)
USCG Commendation Medal (6)
US Coast Guard Achievement Medal
Department of Transportation Medal
Marine Safety Professional Device USCG
Field Medical Readiness Badge USPHS
Hunter College Superior Achievement Award
Superior Environmental Performance Award; USCG

Publications

2015 Coast Guard Representative, ANSI/ASSP Z490.1 Safety Standard, Safety Practices, Procedures and Training, ASSP
2014 “Disaster-Related Exposures and Health Effects among US Coast Guard Responders to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: a cross-sectional study”, Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, May 05, 2014