Robert A. Frosch

Biography

Abstract

Robert Frosch is Senior Research Fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University (1993-present). Other institutional affiliations include General Motors Company and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). His research interests include seismic arrays and nuclear test detection.

Important Dates

May 22, 1928Birth, New York (N.Y.).

1947Obtained AB, Columbia University, New York (N.Y.).

1949Obtained MA, Columbia University, New York (N.Y.).

1951 – 1963Research Scientist, Theoretical Division (1951-1953) and Associate Director to Director (1953-1963), Hudson Laboratories, Columbia University, New York (N.Y.).

1952Obtained PhD in Theoretical Physics, Columbia University, New York (N.Y.).

1963 – 1966Director for Nuclear Test Detection (1963-1965) and Deputy Director (1965-1966), Advanced Research Projects Agency, United States Department of Defense.

1966 – 1973Assistance Secretary of the Navy for Research and Development, United States Navy, Washington (D.C.).

1967United States Delegate, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

1970United States Delegate, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

1973 – 1975Assistant Executive Director, United Nations Environmental Program, United Nations.

1975 – 1977Associate Director for Applied Oceanography, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

1977 – 1981Administrator, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

1981 – 1982President, American Association of Engineering Societies.

1982 – 1988Member, Board of Trustees, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

1982 – 1993Vice President for Research Laboratories, General Motors Company.

1993 – presentSenior Research Fellow, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge (Mass.).

2010Awarded George E. Pake Prize, American Physical Society.

Occupation

Theoretical physicist.

Places

Birth

New York (N.Y.)

Undergraduate Education

New York (N.Y.)

Graduate Education

New York (N.Y.)

Employment

New York (N.Y.)

Washington (D.C.)

Cambridge (Mass.)

Subjects

Nuclear weapons.

Seismic arrays.

Theoretical physics.

Underground nuclear explosions.

Relationships

People

Colleagues

Boehm, Felix

Both employed at Columbia University.

Booth, Eugene

Both employed at Columbia University.

Branscomb, Lewis M., 1926-

Both employed at Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Brillouin, Léon, 1889-1969

Both employed at Columbia University.

Brooks, Harvey

Both employed at Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Commins, Eugene D.

Both employed at Columbia University.

Cummins, Herman Z., 1933-

Both employed at Columbia University.

Davis, Bergen, 1869-1958

Both employed at Columbia University.

Devons, Samuel

Both employed at Columbia University.

Dunning, John R. (John Ray), 1907-1975

Both employed at Columbia University.

Feinberg, Gerald, 1933-

Both employed at Columbia University.

Fletcher, James Chipman, 1919-1991

Both employed at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Foley, Henry Michael, 1917-1982

Both employed at Columbia University.

Gehrels, Neil

Both employed at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Goldhaber, Gerson

Both employed at Columbia University.

Henley, Ernest M.

Both employed at Columbia University.

Holdren, John P.

Both employed at Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Hughes, Vernon W.

Both employed at Columbia University.

Javan, Ali, 1926-

Both employed at Columbia University.

Jones, Robert T. (Robert Thomas), 1910-1999

Both employed at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Kinoshita, T. (Toichiro)

Both employed at Columbia University.

Kraichnan, Robert H., 1928-2008

Both employed at Columbia University.

Kroll, Norman Myles, 1922-

Both employed at Columbia University.

Kusch, Polykarp, 1911-1993

Both employed at Columbia University.

Lamb, Willis E. (Willis Eugene), 1913-2008

Both employed at Columbia University.

Lederman, Leon M.

Both employed at Columbia University.

Lee, T. D., 1926-

Both employed at Columbia University.

Luttinger, Joaquin M.

Both employed at Columbia University.

Mandelstam, Stanley

Both employed at Columbia University.

Mather, John C.

Both employed at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Press, Frank, 1924-

Both employed at Columbia University.

Rabi, I. I. (Isidor Isaac), 1898-1988

Both employed at Columbia University.

Raney, William P.

Both employed at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Ruderman, Malvin A.

Both employed at Columbia University.

Schawlow, Arthur L., 1921-1999

Both employed at Columbia University.

Schwartz, Melvin, 1932-2006

Both employed at Columbia University.

Serber, R. (Robert)

Both employed at Columbia University.

Townes, Charles H.

Both employed at Columbia University.

Weinberg, Steven, 1933-

Both employed at Columbia University.

Additional

Sonnemann, Harry, 1924-

Institutions

Major Positions

Columbia University. Department of Physics

Obtained AB (1947), MA (1949), and PhD in Theoretical Physics (1952). Research Scientist, Theoretical Division and Associate Director to Director, Hudson Laboratories.

General Motors Corporation

Vice President for Research Laboratories.

John F. Kennedy School of Government

Senior Research Fellow.

United States. Advanced Research Projects Agency

Director for Nuclear Test Detection and Deputy Director.

United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Administrator.

United States. Navy

Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research and Development.

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Associate Director for Applied Oceanography and Member, Board of Trustees.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

American Association of Engineering Societies

President.

American Physical Society

Received 2010 George E. Pake Prize.

United Nations

Assistant Executive Director, UN Environmental Program and United States Delegate Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Resources

Archival Resources

Author

"Oceanography: The Making of a Science" [videoreordings], 2000.

Libraries. University Archives

Oregon State University

Corvallis, OR 97331, USA

Industrial physics history [audiorecording]: session V3 of the APS annual meeting, March 2008.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

National Air and Space Museum space astronomy oral history project records, 1981-1986.

Archives Division

Smithsonian Institution. National Air and Space Museum

MRC 322, Washington, DC, 20560, USA

Oral History interview with Robert Alan Frosch, 1981 July 10, 23, August 19, September 15 and October 6.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Robert Alan Frosch, 1998 May 28.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

The character of federally supported research in universities [sound recording] : a panel discussion, 1969 September 29.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Subject

Oral history interview with Harry Sonnemann, 1998 January 22.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Published Resources

Author

Audio Presentation (mp3): "Application Oriented R&D: Aphorisms and Anecdotes"