Robert Haun managed research programs leading to both commercial and military laser applications at Westinghouse's Research Laboratory. He discusses his early interest in optical pumping; constructing a pink ruby laser after Maiman announced his results; the Westinghouse study group on lasers as weapons; and research programs carried out on behalf of the Westinghouse Defense Division on laser materials and on flashlamps. He relates his group's unsuccessful attempt to interest the Westinghouse manufacturing divisions in a novel flashlamp design; the cut in personnel in the mid 1960s as the Department of Defense's interest in lasers temporarily diminished; his group's attempt to push various civilian applications; Westinghouse research on CO2 lasers; and work on nonlinear optical materials.