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History @ Los Alamos

World War II 

The Cold War 

  •   Photo of navy ships in a military maneuverWeapons
    • Hydrogen Bomb Development
  •   Photo of the mushroom cloud of the Hydrogen Bomb MikeTest: atmos.
  •   Scientific illustration of a fusion weapon in cross-sectionTest: under.
    • JULIN: The Last Test Series
  •   Photo of John F. Kennedy speaking at Los AlamosArms Control
    • Arms Control Treaties

Research 

  •   Photo of crater left as a result of an underground test at the Nevada Test SiteEnergy
    • Hot Dry Rock
  •   Image of gamma ray pulses detected by Vela satellites Defense
    • Stockpile Stewardship
    • Nonproliferation
  •   Image of a graphic chart reflecting the decrease in the nuclear weapons stockpileComputing
    • Supercomputing
  •   Photo of supercomputers used to simulate nuclear weapons testingBasic Science
    • Astrophysics

Donald M. Kerr joined the Laboratory in 1966 as a staff member in the High-Altitude Phenomenology Group. He conducted and led research in high-altitude weapons effects, nuclear test detection, weapons diagnostics, ionospheric physics, and alternative energy programs. Before becoming director in 1979, he was acting assistant secretary for energy technology at the Department of Energy in Washington, D.C.

He holds a doctorate in plasma physics and microwave electronics from Cornell University. Among his many awards is the Department of Energy's Outstanding Service Award. Donald Kerr has had a long and productive career in industry and government following his departure from Los Alamos.