Lynn McCardell grew up in Idaho Falls, and began working as a secretary at the Special Nuclear Reactor Test area (SPERT). Her job entailed typing up reports and preparing memos, first on typewriters and decades later on computers. McCardell’s husband, Richard McCardell, also worked at the plant, however, it was not preferable for husband and wife to be working in close proximity. McCardell was transferred in 1969 to Test Area North (TAN). In this area they build LOFT and tested LOFT.