Frederick M. Bernthal
Encyclopedia
Frederick M. Bernthal was United States
Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
from 1988 to 1990.
on January 10, 1943. He was educated at Valparaiso University
, receiving a B.S. in chemistry
in 1964. He worked at the Argonne National Laboratory
in 1964, and then did graduate research at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
at the University of California, Berkeley
, receiving a Ph.D.
in chemistry in 1969. He then did postdoctoral research at Yale University
in 1969-70.
Bernthal spent 1970 to 1975 as an assistant professor at Michigan State University
. He was promoted to associate professor of chemistry and physics
in 1975 and taught at Michigan State University until 1978.
In 1978, Bernthal became a legislative assistant to Sen.
Howard Baker
(R
—Tenn.). From 1980 to 1983, he was Senator Baker's chief legislative assistant. In 1983, he was appointed to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
, serving there until 1985.
In 1988, President of the United States
Ronald Reagan
nominated Bernthal as Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
and after Senate confirmation, he held that office until 1990.
In 1990, President George H. W. Bush
named Bernthal Deputy Director of the National Science Foundation
. He served there until 1994, when he became president of the Universities Research Association
. He served on the board of Society for Science & the Public
from 2000-2008.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
The Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs is the head of the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs in the United States Department of State...
from 1988 to 1990.
Biography
Frederick M. Bernthal was born in Sheraton, WyomingWyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
on January 10, 1943. He was educated at Valparaiso University
Valparaiso University
Valparaiso University, known colloquially as Valpo, is a regionally accredited private university located in the city of Valparaiso in the U.S. state of Indiana. Founded in 1859, it consists of five undergraduate colleges, a graduate school, a nursing school and a law school...
, receiving a B.S. in chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
in 1964. He worked at the Argonne National Laboratory
Argonne National Laboratory
Argonne National Laboratory is the first science and engineering research national laboratory in the United States, receiving this designation on July 1, 1946. It is the largest national laboratory by size and scope in the Midwest...
in 1964, and then did graduate research at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , is a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory conducting unclassified scientific research. It is located on the grounds of the University of California, Berkeley, in the Berkeley Hills above the central campus...
at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, receiving a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in chemistry in 1969. He then did postdoctoral research at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1969-70.
Bernthal spent 1970 to 1975 as an assistant professor at Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
. He was promoted to associate professor of chemistry and physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
in 1975 and taught at Michigan State University until 1978.
In 1978, Bernthal became a legislative assistant to Sen.
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Howard Baker
Howard Baker
Howard Henry Baker, Jr. is a former Senate Majority Leader, Republican U.S. Senator from Tennessee, White House Chief of Staff, and a former United States Ambassador to Japan.Known in Washington, D.C...
(R
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
—Tenn.). From 1980 to 1983, he was Senator Baker's chief legislative assistant. In 1983, he was appointed to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is an independent agency of the United States government that was established by the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 from the United States Atomic Energy Commission, and was first opened January 19, 1975...
, serving there until 1985.
In 1988, President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
nominated Bernthal as Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
The Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs is the head of the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs in the United States Department of State...
and after Senate confirmation, he held that office until 1990.
In 1990, President George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
named Bernthal Deputy Director of the National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
. He served there until 1994, when he became president of the Universities Research Association
Universities Research Association
The Universities Research Association, Inc. is a consortium of 87 leading research oriented universities, primarily in the United States, with members in Canada, Japan, and Italy. It is based in Washington, D.C.- History and purpose :...
. He served on the board of Society for Science & the Public
Society for Science & the Public
Society for Science & the Public , formerly known as Science Service, is a 5013 non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of science, through its science education programs and publications, including the weekly Science News magazine.Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the organization...
from 2000-2008.