Sec. Richardson Names Senior Policy Advisor

At the beginning of December, Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson designated Dr. Robin Staffin as his Senior Policy Advisor for Science and Technology.

Currently, Dr. Staffin is serving as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Research and Development in the Department of Energy's Office of Defense Programs. The new position follows through on Secretary Richardson's desire to build on the department's position as one of the world's premier science and technology organizations.

"Maintaining the Department of Energy's world leadership as a catalyst of scientific discovery and technological innovation is one of my top priorities," said Secretary Richardson. "Robin Staffin is a highly respected physicist who combines unusually broad scientific expertise with an outstanding record of public service. And he is committed to the Clinton administration's policy of 'science in service to society.' Robin's counsel and vision are ideally suited to helping the department focus its research and development efforts on the scientific challenges to be met in the new millennium."

At DOE, Staffin has had principal responsibility for the science program and research and development base of the Stockpile Stewardship program - the department's comprehensive effort to use cutting-edge, science-based methods to ensure the safety, security and reliability of the nation's nuclear weapons stockpile without underground testing.

Prior to his tenure at DOE, Staffin served as special assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy, providing counsel on U.S. technology infrastructure, international science and technology programs and nonproliferation issues.

While at DOE's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory from 1981-1993, Staffin's many contributions ranged from innovative scientific investigation in laser physics, optics and fusion, to laboratory-wide strategic planning, following his work on the staff of the congressional Office of Technology Assessment.

Staffin earned his bachelor of science degree in physics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and his doctoral degree in theoretical particle physics from Stanford University. While at Stanford, Staffin worked at the DOE's Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. He was also a postdoctoral research fellow at the Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.

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