Coming in out of the cold - physicist Roy D. Woodruff hired by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Science News, Jan 9, 1988

Coming in out of the cold

Physicist Roy D. Woodruff, who challenged Edward Teller's optimistic reports on progress in developing a nuclear-powered X-ray laser and then became a virtual outcast, has regained an important position at the Lawrence Livermore (Calif.) National Laboratory. Three years ago, when Woodruff was director of Livermore's nuclear weapons program, he complained that Teller and weapons scientist Lowell L. Wood were conveying "overly optimistic, technically incorrect" information about X-ray laser development to President Reagan and other high government officials (SN: 10/31/87, p.276). Because nothing was done to address his complaints, Woodruff says he was forced to resign his post "out of principle."

Woodruff was subsequently demoted to the position of staff scientist. He filed a grievance with the University of California, which operates the laboratory for the Department of Energy. The university ruled that Woodruff had been unfairly demoted and asked the laboratory to find him a suitable senior position. Last month, Woodruff was appointed to the newly created position of Livermore's director of weapons verification research. Woodruff's new post takes on added significance with the recent signing of a U.S.-Soviet Union treaty banning medium-range nuclear missiles in Europe.