Victor H. Reis
Encyclopedia
Victor H. Reis is a technologist and former U.S. government official, best known as the architect and original sponsor of the U.S. nuclear Stockpile Stewardship Program
and its associated Accelerated Strategic Computing Initiative (ASCI)
, which resulted in the creation of several new generations of government-sponsored supercomputers.
Reis graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
with a B.S. degree in 1957. He earned an M.S. at Yale University
in 1958 and a Ph.D. from Princeton University
in 1962. From 1973 to 1981, Reis was a technical staff member at MIT's Lincoln Laboratory
.
Reis was Assistant Director for National Security and Space in the Office of Science and Technology Policy
in the Executive Office of the President, 1981-1983. Leaving government, he became senior vice president for strategic planning at the Science Applications International Corp., 1983-1989. He returned briefly to Lincoln Laboratory in 1989 as special assistant to the director, then returned to government as, first, Deputy Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, 1989–1990; then that agency's Director, 1990–1991; and subsequently Director of Defense Research and Engineering at the U.S. Department of Defense, where he succeeded Charles M. Herzfeld
and served until 1993, when he was succeeded by Anita K. Jones.
Reis served as Assistant Secretary for Defense Programs in the U.S. Department of Energy from 1993 to 1999, where he led the development of the DOE's Stockpile Stewardship Program, which was formally established by the 1994 National Defense Authorization Act (Public Law 103-160). After the U.S. moratorium on nuclear testing
in 1992, Reis was among the first to recognize the need for a new, formal program in maintaining the U.S. nuclear stockpile, replacing data formerly obtained by testing with data from supercomputer simulation and small-scale non-nuclear experiments. The Stockpile Stewardship Program, and its associated initiatives in supercomputing, modeling, and simulation, led to the creation of several new generations of supercomputers.
From 1999 to 2005, Reis was senior vice president of Hicks & Associates, Inc. Since 2005, Reis has served as senior advisor in the Office of the Secretary, Department of Energy. He is also a member of the Strategic Advisory Group of the U.S. Strategic Command
.
Reis' awards include two Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Medals.
Stockpile stewardship
Stockpile stewardship refers to the United States program of reliability testing and maintenance of its nuclear weapons without the use of nuclear testing....
and its associated Accelerated Strategic Computing Initiative (ASCI)
Advanced Simulation and Computing Program
The Advanced Simulation and Computing Program is a supercomputing initiative of the United States government, created to help the maintenance of the United States nuclear arsenal after the 1992 moratorium on nuclear testing.Some of the program's supercomputers are on the TOP500...
, which resulted in the creation of several new generations of government-sponsored supercomputers.
Reis graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Stephen Van Rensselaer established the Rensselaer School on November 5, 1824 with a letter to the Rev. Dr. Samuel Blatchford, in which van Rensselaer asked Blatchford to serve as the first president. Within the letter he set down several orders of business. He appointed Amos Eaton as the school's...
with a B.S. degree in 1957. He earned an M.S. 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 1958 and a Ph.D. from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in 1962. From 1973 to 1981, Reis was a technical staff member at MIT's Lincoln Laboratory
Lincoln Laboratory
MIT Lincoln Laboratory, located in Lexington, Massachusetts, is a United States Department of Defense research and development center chartered to apply advanced technology to problems of national security. Research and development activities focus on long-term technology development as well as...
.
Reis was Assistant Director for National Security and Space in the Office of Science and Technology Policy
Office of Science and Technology Policy
The Office of Science and Technology Policy is an office in the Executive Office of the President , established by Congress on May 11, 1976, with a broad mandate to advise the President on the effects of science and technology on domestic and international affairs.The director of this office is...
in the Executive Office of the President, 1981-1983. Leaving government, he became senior vice president for strategic planning at the Science Applications International Corp., 1983-1989. He returned briefly to Lincoln Laboratory in 1989 as special assistant to the director, then returned to government as, first, Deputy Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, 1989–1990; then that agency's Director, 1990–1991; and subsequently Director of Defense Research and Engineering at the U.S. Department of Defense, where he succeeded Charles M. Herzfeld
Charles M. Herzfeld
Charles M. Herzfeld is an American scientist and scientific manager, particularly for the US Government. He is best known for his time as Director of DARPA, during which, among other things, he personally took the decision to authorize the creation of the ARPANET, the predecessor of the Internet.-...
and served until 1993, when he was succeeded by Anita K. Jones.
Reis served as Assistant Secretary for Defense Programs in the U.S. Department of Energy from 1993 to 1999, where he led the development of the DOE's Stockpile Stewardship Program, which was formally established by the 1994 National Defense Authorization Act (Public Law 103-160). After the U.S. moratorium on nuclear testing
Nuclear testing
Nuclear weapons tests are experiments carried out to determine the effectiveness, yield and explosive capability of nuclear weapons. Throughout the twentieth century, most nations that have developed nuclear weapons have tested them...
in 1992, Reis was among the first to recognize the need for a new, formal program in maintaining the U.S. nuclear stockpile, replacing data formerly obtained by testing with data from supercomputer simulation and small-scale non-nuclear experiments. The Stockpile Stewardship Program, and its associated initiatives in supercomputing, modeling, and simulation, led to the creation of several new generations of supercomputers.
From 1999 to 2005, Reis was senior vice president of Hicks & Associates, Inc. Since 2005, Reis has served as senior advisor in the Office of the Secretary, Department of Energy. He is also a member of the Strategic Advisory Group of the U.S. Strategic Command
United States Strategic Command
United States Strategic Command is one of nine Unified Combatant Commands of the United States Department of Defense . The Command, including components, employs more than 2,700 people, representing all four services, including DoD civilians and contractors, who oversee the command's operationally...
.
Reis' awards include two Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Medals.