John P. Holdren

Biography

Abstract

John Holdren served as a member on the President's Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology during the Clinton Presidency, and later was Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and Co-Chair of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) for the Presidency of Barack Obama. He also held a position on the Executive Committee of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs. Other institutional affiliations include include Harvard University, the University of California at Berkeley, and the Wood Hole Research Center.

Important Dates

March 1, 1944Birth, Sewickley (Pa.).

1965Obtained BS, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge (Mass.).

1966Obtained MS, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge (Mass.).

1966 – 1967Consultant on Re-entry Physics, Lockheed Missiles and Space Company.

1969 – 1970Research Assistant, Institute for Plasma Research, Stanford University, Stanford (Calif.).

1970Obtained PhD in Aeronautical, Astronautical, and Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford (Calif.).

1970 – 1975Member, International Environmental Program Committee, National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Engineering.

1970 – presentPhysicist, Theory Group, Magnetic Fusion Energy Division (1970-1973); Faculty Consultant, Magnetic Fusion Energy Division (1973-present); and Faculty Consultant, Laser and Environmental Directorate (1994-present), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore (Calif.).

1971 – presentLecturer (1971-1972); Assistant Professor of Energy and Resources (1973-1975); Associate Professor of Energy and Resources (1975-1978); Professor of Energy and Resources (1978-1991); Acting Chair, Energy and Resources Group (1982-1983); Vice Chair, Energy and Resources Group (1983-1996); Chair of Graduate Advising, Energy and Resources Group (1988-1996); Class of 1935 Professor of Energy and Resources (1991-1996); and Professor of Energy and Resources Emeritus (1996-present), University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley (Calif.).

1972 – 1973Senior Research Fellow, California Institute of Technology.

1975Faculty, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis.

1975 – 1979Member, Committee on Nuclear and Alternative Energy Systems, National Research Council.

1978 – 1979Member, Energy Research Advisory Board, United States Department of Energy.

1981Fellowship, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

1983Vice Chair, Committee for International Security Studies, American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

1984 – 1986Chair, Federation of American Scientists.

1985 – 1989Chair, Senior Committee on Environmental Safety and the Economic Aspects of Magnetic Fusion Energy, United States Department of Energy.

1986 – 1987Kistiakowsky Visting Scholar, American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

1987 – 1988Guest Researcher, Max Planck Society.

1987 – 1997Chair, Executive Committee, Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs.

1991Member, National Academy of Sciences.

1992 – 2009Visiting Scholar (1992-1994); Distinguished Visiting Scientists (1994-2005); Vice Chair, Board of Trustees (1994-2005) and Director (2005-2009), Woods Hole Research Center, Woods Hole (Mass.).

1993 – 2004Chair, Committee on International Security and Arms Control, National Academy of Sciences.

1994 – 2001Member, President's Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology.

1996 – presentDirector, Science Technology and Public Policy Program, John F. Kennedy School of Government (1996-2009); Teresa and John Heinz Professor of Environmental Policy, John F. Kennedy School of Government (1996-present); and Professor of Environmental Science and Public Policy, Department of Earty and Planetary Sciences (1996-2009), Harvard University, Cambridge (Mass.).

2002 – 2009Co-Chair, National Commission on Energy Policy.

2007President, American Association for the Advancement of Science.

2009 – 2017Director and Assistant to the President, Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President, Washington (D.C.).

Occupation

Aerospace engineer and theoretical plasma physicist.

Places

Birth

Sewickley (Pa.)

Undergraduate Education

Cambridge (Mass.)

Graduate Education

Cambridge (Mass.)

Stanford (Calif.)

Employment

Livermore (Calif.)

Berkeley (Calif.)

Cambridge (Mass.)

Woods Hole (Mass.)

Washington (D.C.)

Subjects

Aeronautics.

Engineering physics.

Plasma physics.

Theoretical physics.

Relationships

People

Colleagues

Alder, B. J.

Both employed at Lawrence Radiation Laboratory and Lawrence Livermore Laboratory.

Alvarez, Luis W., 1911-1988

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Anderson, Carl D. (Carl David), 1905-1991

Both employed at California Institute of Technology.

Anderson, John D., 1930-

Both employed at Lawrence Radiation Laboratory and Lawrence Livermore Laboratory.

Bacher, Robert F. (Robert Fox), 1905-2004

Both employed at California Institute of Technology.

Barish, B. C. (Barry Clark), 1936-

Both employed at California Institute of Technology.

Batzel, Roger Elwood

Both employed at Lawrence Radiation Laboratory and Lawrence Livermore Laboratory.

Bialek, William S.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Birge, Raymond T. (Raymond Thayer), 1887-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Boehm, Felix

Both employed at California Institute of Technology.

Branscomb, Lewis M., 1926-

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

Brode, Robert B. (Robert Bigham), 1900-1986

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Brooks, Harvey

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

Brown, Harold, 1927-2019

Both employed at California Institute of Technology.

Browne, John C.

Both employed at Lawrence Radiation Laboratory and Lawrence Livermore Laboratory.

Chamberlain, O. (Owen)

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Chemla, D. S.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Chew, Geoffrey F.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Christy, Robert F.

Both employed at California Institute of Technology.

Chu, Steven

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Clarke, John, 1942-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Clauser, John F. (John Francis), 1942-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Cohen, Marvin L.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Commins, Eugene D.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Davis, J. C. Séamus

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

DuBridge, Lee A. (Lee Alvin), 1901-1994

Both employed at California Institute of Technology.

DuMond, Jesse W. M. (Jesse William Monroe), 1892-1976

Both employed at California Institute of Technology.

Falcone, Roger W.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Falicov, L. M. (Leopoldo Maximo), 1933-1995

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Feynman, Richard P. (Richard Phillips), 1918-1988

Both employed at California Institute of Technology.

Fowler, William A.

Both employed at California Institute of Technology.

Freedman, Stuart J.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Frosch, Robert A. (Robert Alan), 1928-

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

Gaillard, Mary K.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Gell-Mann, Murray

Both employed at California Institute of Technology.

Glaser, D. A.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Goldhaber, Gerson

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Hahn, E. L. (Erwin Louis), 1921-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Helmholz, August Carl, 1915-2003

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Jackson, John David, 1925-2016

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Jeffries, C. D., 1922-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Kahn, Steven Michael

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Kittel, Charles

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Kruer, William L.

Both employed at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory.

Lange, Andrew

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Lauritsen, Thomas, 1915-1973

Both employed at California Institute of Technology.

Leighton, Robert B.

Both employed at California Institute of Technology.

Lindl, John

Both employed at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory.

Loeb, Leonard B. (Leonard Benedict), 1891-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Louie, Steven G., 1949-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Mandelstam, Stanley

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Marburger, John H., III (John Harmen), 1941-2011

Both employed at the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

May, Michael M., 1925-

Both employed at Lawrence Radiation Laboratory and Lawrence Livermore Laboratory.

McKee, Christopher, 1942-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

McMillan, Edwin M. (Edwin Mattison), 1907-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Miller, George H. (physicist)

Both employed at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory.

Nuckolls, John Hopkin

Both employed at Lawrence Radiation Laboratory and Lawrence Livermore Laboratory.

Oddone, Piermaria J.

Both employed at California Institute of Technology.

Panofsky, Wolfgang K. H. (Wolfgang Kurt Hermann), 1919-2007

Both employed at California Institute of Technology.

Post, Richard F.

Both employed at Lawrence Radiation Laboratory and Lawrence Livermore Laboratory.

Price, Paul Buford

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Randall, Lisa

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Reynolds, John Hamilton, 1923-2000

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Richards, Paul L. (Paul Linford)

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Schwarz, John H.

Both employed at California Institute of Technology.

Sciulli, Frank J.

Both employed at California Institute of Technology.

Segrè, Emilio

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Shapiro, Marjorie

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Shen, Y. R.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Steiner, Herbert M.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Stubbs, Christopher

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Tarter, C. Bruce

Both employed at Lawrence Radiation Laboratory and Lawrence Livermore Laboratory.

Teller, Edward, 1908-2003

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Teukolsky, Saul A. (Saul Arno), 1947-

Both employed at California Institute of Technology.

Thomas, Gareth, 1932-2014

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Tollestrup, Alvin

Both employed at California Institute of Technology.

Townes, Charles H.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Trilling, George H.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Tsuei, Chang C.

Both employed at California Institute of Technology.

Watson, Kenneth M.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Will, Clifford M., 1946-

Both employed at California Institute of Technology.

Wu, Theodore Y.-T. (Theodore Yao-tsu)

Both employed at California Institute of Technology.

Zweig, George

Both employed at California Institute of Technology.

Institutions

Major Positions

California Institute of Technology. Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy

Senior Research Fellow.

Harvard University. Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences

Professor of Environmental Science and Public Policy.

John F. Kennedy School of Government

Teresa and John Heinz Professor of Environmental Policy and Director, Science Technology and Public Policy Program.

Lawrence Livermore Laboratory

Physicist, Theory Group, Magnetic Fusion Energy Division.

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Faculty Consultant, Magnetic Fusion Energy Division and Faculty Consultant, Laser and Environmental Directorate.

Lawrence Radiation Laboratory

Physicist, Theory Group, Magnetic Fusion Energy Division (Livermore campus).

Stanford University. Department of Physics

Obtained PhD (1970). Research Assistant.

United States. Office of Science and Technology Policy

Director and Assistant to the President.

University of California, Berkeley. Department of Physics

Lecturer; Assistant Professor of Energy and Resources; Associate Professor of Energy and Resources; Professor of Energy and Resources; Acting Chair, Energy and Resources Group; Vice Chair, Energy and Resources Group; Chair of Graduate Advising, Energy and Resources Group; Class of 1935 Professor of Energy and Resources; and Professor of Energy and Resources Emeritus.

Woods Hole Research Center (Woods Hole, Mass.)

Director; Visiting Scholar; Distinguished Visiting Scientist; and Vice Chair, Board of Trustees.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Kistiakowsky Visiting Scholar and Vice Chair, Energy and Resources Group.

American Association for the Advancement of Science

President.

Federation of American Scientists

Chair.

International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis

Faculty.

John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

Fellowship.

Lockheed Missiles and Space Company

Consultant on Re-entry Physics.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Physics

Obtained BS (1965) and MS (1966).

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften

Guest Researcher.

National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)

Member, International Environmental Program Committee and Chair, Committee on International Security and Arms Control.

National Commission on Energy Policy (U.S.)

Co-Chair.

National Research Council (U.S.)

Member, Committee on Nuclear and Alternative Energy Systems.

President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (U.S.)

Member.

Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs

Chair, Executive Committee.

United States. Department of Energy

Member, Energy Research Advisory Board and Chair, Senior Committee on Environmental Safety and the Economic Aspects of Magnetic Fusion Energy.

Resources

Archival Resources

Author

Energy for a Carbon-Constrained World [videorecording] : A public symposium honoring Robert H. Williams, 3 April 2017.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Published Resources

Subject

Home Page of John Holdren, Harvard Kennedy School of Government.