The Laser Institute of America (LIA) has awarded its 2017 R. James Rockwell Jr. Award to John O’Hagan for his contributions to laser safety. The Rockwell Education Achievement Award recognizes individuals with outstanding contributions in safety education and will be presented at the annual International Laser Safety Conference in Atlanta, where he will serve as conference general chair. O'Hagan is honored for his work as a laser safety resource for governments and organizations, providing advice on the effects of optical radiation on people, as well as his work in laser safety education at Loughborough University. O'Hagan heads the Laser and Optical Radiation Dosimetry Group at Public Health England's Centre for Radiation, Chemical, and Environmental Hazards and is also the group leader for Laser and Optical Radiation at Public Health England's Centre for Radiation, Chemical, and Environmental Hazards, a position he has held since 1975. O’Hagan has collaborated on joint laser safety courses since 1990 and is also a member of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection. He is the director of photobiology and photochemistry at CIE, a senior member of SPIE, and a fellow of the Laser Institute of America. The LIA is the professional society for laser applications and safety serving the industrial, educational, medical, research and government communities.