Greek officer recognized for work with LLNL
(Download Image)
Photo courtesy of Naval Postgraduate School A Greek naval officer, Lt. Ioannis Kizanis, right, who worked closely with LLNL scientists on his thesis research, receives the award for “Outstanding International Student” from Vice Admiral Dan Oliver, president of the Naval Postgraduate School.
A Greek military officer who worked closely with LLNL scientists on his thesis research has graduated from the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) with two degrees and honors for his research and academic work.
NPS Physics/National Security Affairs student Ioannis Kizanis, a lieutenant in the Greek Navy, was awarded two separate degrees: a master of arts in security studies and a master of science in applied physics.
In addition, Kizanis received special recognition for writing one of the school’s "outstanding theses" (30 out of 400 graduates were honored). He also garnered the School of International Graduate Studies International Student Award for overall scholarly achievement.
The commencement speaker at the Monterey graduation ceremony on Dec. 19 was Vice Admiral Mark Ferguson, III, the chief of Naval Personnel. At the beginning of his speech, Ferguson specifically cited the NPS/LLNL research of Kizanis as an example of the kind of high quality and relevant research that is needed at this crucial time in history.
In his studies, Kizanis evaluated both the policy and technical implications of maritime interdiction of the illicit transport of nuclear materials.
In his research, he performed a comprehensive assessment of the legal requirements underlying interdiction by considering the international analog to the American legal concept of "probable cause."
On the technical side, he supported LLNL/NPS joint field experimentation exercises last year in San Francisco Bay, in which radiation detection arrays mounted on both manned and remotely operated vessels were used to detect and identify radioactive sources concealed within small ships (less than 300 tons).
In addition, he participated in the modification of the Textron Adaptable Radiation Area Monitor system for radioactive material detection under maritime conditions.
Working under the direction of LLNL Chair Professor Craig Smith and National Security Affairs Professor Clay Moltz, Kizanis completed his research thesis entitled "‘Probable Cause’ For Maritime Interdictions Involving Illicit Radioactive Materials."
The NPS-LLNL collaboration represented in Kizanis’ research is one of many ongoing student and faculty interactions between the two institutions. Several masters and Ph.D students are currently pursuing research projects in support of LLNL mission topics, and several other faculty and research staff interactions are active.
Having successfully completed his research and academic requirements at NPS, Kizanis has returned to Greece, where he will receive his next shipboard assignment with the Hellenic Navy.
Since 1998, LLNL and the NPS have worked together in a series of exchanges and collaborations focused on mutual research interests related to national security. In 2004, these interactions were formalized when a memorandum of understanding was initiated. As part of the resulting collaboration, students at NPS support LLNL research in a broad range of technical areas.
