Donald Prosnitz

Dr. Donald Prosnitz is an Associate Senior Fellow at the Center for Global Security Research at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, a Senior Principal Researcher (adjunct) at RAND Corporation, and a visiting scholar at the physics department of the University of California at Berkeley. His career spans over four decades with significant contributions to physics, national security, and technology policy.

Prosnitz earned a Ph.D. in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a B.S. in physics from Yale University. His educational background provided the foundation for his extensive work in laser physics and national security applications.

Dr. Prosnitz's research interests span multiple interdisciplinary domains at the intersection of science and policy. His primary focus areas include Free-Electron Lasers, Particle Accelerators, and applications of these technologies to National Security and Homeland Security challenges. He has made significant contributions to understanding the interplay between high-performance computing and policy formulation, with applications in law enforcement, electronic surveillance, and counterterrorism. His work often bridges the gap between advanced physics research and practical security applications, particularly in the areas of chemical and biological defense, weapons of mass destruction detection, and risk assessment methodologies.

An analysis of Dr. Prosnitz's recent publications reveals a consistent trajectory toward the application of advanced physics to national security challenges. His work shows a progression from fundamental research on free-electron lasers and particle accelerators to increasingly policy-oriented studies addressing homeland security, counterterrorism, and the ethical implications of security technologies. The interdisciplinary nature of his research connects physics, engineering, public policy, and ethics, reflecting his unique position at the intersection of scientific research and security policy formulation.

Dr. Prosnitz has received several prestigious scientific awards throughout his career:

• U.S. Particle Accelerator Award for Achievement in Accelerator Physics and Technology (1990)
• Fellow of the American Physical Society (2002)

Throughout his career, Dr. Prosnitz has been actively involved in significant advisory roles and research initiatives. He served as the first Chief Science and Technology Advisor for the U.S. Department of Justice, where he coordinated technology policy across component agencies. He has chaired the American Physical Society Forum on Physics and Society and served on the National Academy of Sciences' Board on Chemical Sciences and Technology. Currently, he continues to serve on multiple NAS committees examining weapons of mass destruction and the Department of Homeland Security's risk assessment approaches. His work has been supported by various government agencies including the Department of Energy, Department of Justice, and Department of Homeland Security.

Dr. Prosnitz has been instrumental in the design, construction, and operation of numerous research facilities at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, particularly in the areas of lasers, particle accelerators, and free-electron lasers. His work at LLNL has involved multidisciplinary teams spanning physics, engineering, and security domains. At RAND Corporation, he contributes to studies on technology applications for national security challenges. He also maintains connections with the academic community through his visiting scholar position at UC Berkeley's physics department.