News Briefs: May 8, 2009
Lab's Synakowski to head DOE fusion program
The Department of Energy announced that Ed Synakowski of the Lab's Physical and Life Sciences (PLS) Directorate will become the new head of the Office of Fusion Energy Sciences (OFES) effective June 7. OFES is one of seven elements of the Office of Science.
The Office of Science selected Synakowski after a nationwide search, which started in August 2008. Synakowski has served as the Fusion Energy Program (FEP) leader at LLNL since January 2006 and, more recently, as the deputy division leader at–large of the LLNL Physics Division. Prior to joining LLNL in January 2006, he was the deputy program director of the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL).
"I regard this opportunity to lead the national endeavor in the fusion sciences as rare and a high privilege. To do so at a time of national and global urgency makes this all the more meaningful," Synakowski said. "In my brief three and a half years here, the experience of witnessing this institution confront and master enormous scientific and engineering challenges, and having such successes breed more successes, has made an indelible impression on me. This Lab has tremendous inventiveness and technical prowess. I look forward to working with LLNL and national and international partners to further experience the power of shared successes as we enter the burning plasma era."
In his new position, Synakowski will serve as one of the associate directors of the Office of Science. He will be responsible for strategic program planning, budget formulation and execution, program integration with other Office of Science activities and with the DOE technology offices and interagency integration. The position is within the ranks of the U.S. government's senior executive service.
Director George Miller praised Synakowski for his contributions to the Laboratory and congratulated him on this appointment. "Ed will bring sound scientific expertise to this important position and will help carry out the administration's efforts in advancing the nation's investment in scientific and technological innovation," Miller said.
"This is great for the country and for the national fusion energy community and effort," said Ed Moses, principal associate director for NIF and Photon Sciences. "Ed has an extensive background in fusion physics. He understands the challenges of achieving fusion ignition in a laboratory setting as well as its global importance. "All of us congratulate him and look forward to continued work with him in his new role."
Synakowski received his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Texas in 1988, performing his research on the Texas Experimental Tokamak (TEXT). He received his bachelor's degree with departmental honors from the Johns Hopkins University. There, he received the Donald Kerr Memorial Medal for Excellence in physics. He became a fellow of the American Physical Society (APS) in 2000.
Don Correll will serve as FEP acting program leader until a permanent replacement is selected. Correll played a similar role in 2004 and 2005 before joining the PLS Associate Director's Office in the summer of 2006. As acting program leader, Correll will report to PLS Physics Division Leader Jim Trebes. Correll will continue as the director of the Institute for Laser Science Applications, reporting to the PLS associate director.
May is Asian Pacific Heritage Month
All Lab employees are invited to attend the following events in celebration of Asian Pacific Heritage Month:
Keynote speech by J. D. Hokoyama — Tuesday, May 12, 1-2 p.m., Bldg. 123 auditorium
The Asian Pacific American Council (APAC) and the Strategic Diversity Programs office have invited J. D. Hokoyama, president and CEO of Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics Inc. (LEAP), to be the keynote speaker for Asian Pacific Heritage Month (APHM).Hokoyama's presentation is called "One Nation In-di-vis-able — Can Hyphenated Americans Honor Their Heritage and Embrace a New National Unity." His talk is part of the Lab's "Science and Society" colloquium series (see flier).
'Dust Storm' — Tuesday, May 19, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Bldg. 543 auditorium
Zachary Drake, a local actor, will perform "Dust Storm," a one-man drama by Sonora playwright Rick Foster. Dust Storm is a story about an angry young Japanese-American high school student whose life is changed, along with everyone else's, by the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and an artist, Chiura Obata. It's a story about the journey from rebellion and anger to harmony and inner strength and the journey is propelled by Obata's art.
APAHM Festival —Thursday, May 21, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Lake Haussmann area (Note the location change from the LLNL pool area to Lake Haussmann.)
The festival will feature a variety of ethnic food including Filipino, Korean, Afghani and Chinese cuisines and cultural performances by Buk Sing Choy Lay Fut Lion Dance and Ms. Swetha Dixit of the Kalaikoil Dance & Arts of India.
For information, contact Pete Camacho, 2-2406, or Mary Anne Holman, 3-0583.
