Congressman Rob Wittman Visits JLab


During Congressman Rob Wittman’s visit to Jefferson Lab, he toured Hall C with Physics Division Associate Director Larry Cardman. Here Cardman explains the workings of the equipment and the experiments run here.
Congressman Rob Wittman, representing Virginia's 1st Congressional District, visited Jefferson Lab on Jan. 3 to gain a better understanding of JLab's research program and its economic impact on Virginia.

He took the opportunity to tour the accelerator control room (Machine Control Center) one of the Lab's cavernous end stations (Hall C) where physics experiments are run, the Free-Electron Laser and Dilon Technologies, a medical imaging company that licenses JLab-developed detector technology and is based in the Applied Research Center.

Wittman learned about JLab's advances in its scientific mission, the study of the building blocks of the nucleus of the atom and received information about the planned upgrade of the Lab's research capabilities and its impact on the future of U.S. science. He heard about the Lab's medical imaging developments and applied-science experiments underway in the Free-Electron Laser facility and met with senior Lab leaders and Department of Energy managers.

Wittman was very impressed with the depth and breadth of JLab's basic science and technology transfer programs. He spoke at length with senior management and pledged his support of Jefferson Lab in Washington, D.C.

"I am very glad that Congressman Wittman could visit Jefferson Lab and see our programs and facilities firsthand," Lab Director Christoph Leemann said. "We were fortunate to have him visit us so early in his term."

The congressman was elected, during a special election held Dec. 11, to serve the unexpired term of the late U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Davis. The 1st District stretches from Fauquier County to Hampton and includes portions of Newport News.

Leading up to the December election, Wittman had represented the 99th Legislative District in the Virginia House of Delegates. He holds a Ph.D. in public policy and administration from Virginia Commonwealth University, a master's in health policy and administration from the University of North Carolina, and a bachelor's in biology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute.