August 3, 2011
New Appointment to the Office of the Director, PSFC

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Martin Greenwald as a new Associate Director, PSFC, effective immediately. Martin will join my office and complement the activities of Dr. Richard Temkin, Associate Director, and Dr. Peter Catto, Assistant Director.

Martin will replace Prof. Jeffery Freidberg who has announced his retirement as of July 1, 2011. While Jeff has retired from academic duties in the NSE Department, and from his post of Associate Director, PSFC, he will remain actively involved in the research activities of the PSFC Theory Group (under the leadership of Dr. Peter Catto) as well as undertake a new project of writing a new textbook (perhaps two volumes) on MHD theory. Please join me in thanking Jeff for his many years of service to the PSFC, in particular in leading the Independent Activity Period (IAP) lecture series, as well as assisting me in the educational aspects of the Center. Jeff will remain in his office at NW 16-254.

Martin is well known to all of you as an eminent fusion scientist and leader of the Alcator Transport Research Group, and Head of the PSFC Computer Services Steering Committee. As many of you know, Martin has achieved considerable recognition in the fusion community as Chair of the FESAC Subpanel that produced the influential and often quoted report “Priorities, Gaps and Opportunities: Towards a Long Range Strategic Plan for Magnetic Fusion Energy (October, 2007). More recently, Martin Greenwald has been appointed as Chair of the Fusion Energy Sciences Advisory Committee (FESAC). FESAC advises Dr. William F. Brinkman, Director of the Office of Science, Department of Energy, on important fusion related issues of national interest.

As an immediate new task, I have asked Martin to lead, and advise me on the PSFC effort on outside collaborations, both of national and international nature. As many of you know this is an important and growing activity in fusion research, and will take on increasing importance in the future. In this capacity Martin will work closely with Division Heads who are in charge of arranging individual collaborations with their respective research groups. Martin will also help me with additional tasks as they arise and where his expertise is needed to improve the effectiveness of PSFC leadership. His work as Associate Director will be a 25% FTE effort, so Martin will remain a key contributor to the Alcator Program and the PSFC Computational Sciences Activities.

Please join me in thanking Martin for accepting this important new responsibility and provide him with help as needed to succeed in his new position. Thank you.

Miklos Porkolab

Martin can be reached at g@psfc.mit.edu