Roger Batzel

Roger Elwood Batzel (December 1, 1921 – July 29, 2000) was an American nuclear scientist, best known as the director of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for over sixteen years, from 1971 to 1988.[1][2][3]

Roger E. Batzel
Born(1921-12-01)December 1, 1921
Weiser, Idaho
DiedJuly 29, 2000(2000-07-29) (aged 78)
San Ramon, California
Resting placeQueen of Heaven Cemetery
Lafayette, California
NationalityAmerican
Alma materUniversity of Idaho
(B.S.Ch.E. 1947)
University of California
(Ph.D. 1951)
Known forNuclear weapons
Spouse(s)Edwina Grindstaff Batzel
Children1 son, 2 daughters
Scientific career
FieldsNuclear chemistry
InstitutionsDirector (1971–1988)
Lawrence Livermore Laboratory
Doctoral advisorGlenn T. Seaborg
Military career
Allegiance United States
Service/branch U.S. Army Air Forces
UnitNavigation training
Battles/warsWorld War II  (stateside)

Early years

Born and raised in Weiser, Idaho, Batzel graduated from Weiser High School in 1940 and enrolled at the University of Idaho in Moscow.[4][5] He left college during World War II to serve in the U.S. Army Air Forces as a navigation instructor, then returned to UI and earned a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering in 1947.[5]

Batzel worked for General Electric for a year at nearby Hanford, Washington, then attended graduate school at the University of California in Berkeley. He earned a Ph.D. in nuclear chemistry in 1951, studying under Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg, a Nobel Prize winner that same year.[2][3] Batzel then worked as a senior chemist for California Research and Development Co.[6]

Lawrence Livermore

Batzel joined the University of California Radiation Laboratory at Livermore in its second year in 1953 as an assistant division leader with the chemistry department, and became its head in 1959.[6] (Shortly after Ernest Lawrence's death in August 1958, the Berkeley and Livermore labs were renamed "Lawrence Radiation Laboratory.")

In 1961, Batzel became associate director of chemistry and was also named associate director of nuclear testing, a position he held until 1964. He was associate director of chemistry and space reactors from 1966 to 1968 and associate director of chemistry and biomedical research in 1969.

Batzel was appointed as the newly renamed Lawrence Livermore Laboratory's sixth director on December 1, 1971, his 50th birthday.[1] He was its longest-serving director and was one of the nation's leading authorities on nuclear weapons,[7] advising four U.S. presidents. Under his guidance, the Laboratory broadened its mission from primarily nuclear weapons to many areas of applied science, and he stepped down in April 1988 at age 66.[1][8]

Death

Batzel suffered a major heart attack in July 2000 at age 78 and died several days later in a San Ramon hospital. Later that year, the Laboratory dedicated Building 132, the national security building, in Batzel's memory for his "legacy of excellence in support of national security."[1]

Personal

Batzel was married to Edwina (Grindstaff) Batzel (b. 1926) for 54 years and they had three children, a son and two daughters.[2] He is buried at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Lafayette, California.[9]

References
  1. Nuckolls, John H. (January–February 2001). "A career of distinguished achievement". Science & Technology Review. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
  2. Saxon, Wolfgang (August 2, 2000). "Roger Batzel, nuclear chemist And Livermore Lab Director, 78". New York Times. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
  3. "Roger Batzel; Livermore Lab Director for 17 Years". Los Angeles Times. August 3, 2000. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
  4. "Lindley Hall". Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1941. p. 185.
  5. "Seniors". Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1947. p. 52.
  6. "Atomic scientist slated to speak in Victoria". Victoria (TX) Advocate. March 27, 1960. p. 1.
  7. Karaim, Reed (August 13, 1991). "Fire on bomber in 1980 posed nuclear risk". Chicago Tribune. Knight-Ridder Tribune News. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
  8. "Roger Batzel". SF Gate. August 1, 2000. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
  9. "Roger Batzel". Billion Graves. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
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