Kleppner, Lamb to Head NMD Study

At left: Daniel Kleppner (Photo courtesy of Kleppner) and at right: Frederick K. Lamb (Photo by William Edelstein).

Daniel Kleppner of MIT and Frederick K. Lamb of the University of Illinois will be the co-chairs of the APS study on National Missile Defense that was approved by Council in November.

The study will analyze a possible boost-phase intercept system, and is on a very fast track, with a final report, to be approved by Council and released to the public, targeted for the end of the year. As Lamb remarked to the APS Panel on Public Affairs (POPA), of which he is a member, the intention is for the study to provide input to the decision-making process, not to comment on decisions already made. Kleppner agreed, saying "Our goal is to define and clarify technical issues that can be helpful to policy makers in formulating our national strategy."

George Trilling, President of the APS, noted that "the APS is extremely fortunate that Dan Kleppner and Fred Lamb, two outstanding physicists, have agreed to devote a significant amount of their time over the next year to lead the NMD Study."

Frederick K. Lamb is the Brand and Monica Fortner Professor of Physics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and is Director of the Center for Theoretical Astrophysics there. He has had extensive experience in defense-related studies, including being a member since 1989 of the University Scientists Program of the Institute for Defense Analyses. He chaired the advisory panel that recommended the boost-phase NMD study to the APS Council.

Daniel Kleppner is the Lester Wolfe Professor of Physics at MIT and the Director of the Center for Ultracold Atoms. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, and the recipient of both the Davisson-Germer and Lilienfeld Prizes of the APS. His experience in public affairs includes service on POPA from 1989 to 1992, and as Chair of the APS Physics Planning Committee from 1992 to 1996.

Further details about the NMD study can be found in the January issue of APS News.