Arden L. Bement Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arden L. Bement Jr.
|
|
|---|---|
_(4404826334)_(cropped).jpg)
Bement in 2010
|
|
| 12th Director of the National Science Foundation | |
| In office 2004–2010 |
|
| President | George W. Bush Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Rita R. Colwell |
| Succeeded by | Subra Suresh |
| 12th Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology | |
| In office 2001–2004 |
|
| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Karen Brown (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Hratch Semerjian (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 22, 1932 (age 93) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Colorado School of Mines University of Idaho University of Michigan |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Material Science and Engineering, Nuclear Engineering |
| Institutions | General Electric Company, Battelle Memorial Institute, MIT, DARPA, Office of the Secretary of Defense, TRW, Purdue University, National Science Foundation, National Institute of Standards and Technology |
| Thesis | Effects of cold work and neutron irradiation on the tensile properties of zircaloy-2 (1963) |
Arden Lee Bement Jr. was born on May 22, 1932. He is an American engineer and scientist. He has held important leadership jobs in the government, in companies, and at universities.
Bement was chosen to be a member of the National Academy of Engineering in 1983. This was because he helped us understand how radiation affects materials used in nuclear power. He also helped create new materials for defense.
He used to be a Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Advanced Technology. He was also the Chief Technical Officer at TRW. He served as the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF). He was also the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). After his six-year term at NSF ended in 2010, he became the first director of the Global Policy Research Institute at Purdue University. He also became Purdue's Chief Global Affairs officer.
A Life of Science and Service
Arden Bement Jr. was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After high school, he started his career at the Climax Molybdenum Mine. His boss, Prentice Cain, had studied at the Colorado School of Mines. Cain encouraged Arden to go there too. He even helped Arden fill out the application form.
Prentice Cain made a special deal with Arden. He agreed to pay for Arden's first semester of tuition. If Arden passed that first semester, he wouldn't have to pay Cain back. Sadly, Prentice Cain passed away before Arden graduated. But his kind help changed Arden's life path forever. It led to Dr. Bement's many important contributions in science and engineering.
Dr. Bement has several degrees. He earned an engineering degree in metallurgy from the Colorado School of Mines. He also has a master's degree in metallurgical engineering from the University of Idaho. His doctorate in metallurgical engineering is from the University of Michigan. He has also received honorary doctorates from many other universities.
He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering. He is also a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Plus, he is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Bement is also a retired lieutenant colonel from the United States Army Corps of Engineers.
Dr. Bement was part of the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO. He was also the vice-chair of its Natural Sciences and Engineering Committee. He has led many studies for the National Research Council (NRC). One important study he led was about checking the scientific and technical health of our nation's defense materials.
He also led the NIST Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology. He headed the advisory committee for NIST’s Advanced Technology Program. He was a member of the board for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. He chaired the Commission for Engineering and Technical Studies. He also chaired the National Materials Advisory Board of the National Research Council.
Dr. Bement was a member of the Space Station Utilization Advisory Subcommittee. He was also on the Commercialization and Technology Advisory Committee for NASA. From 1989 to 1995, he was a member of the U.S. National Science Board. This board helps guide the NSF and advises the President and Congress.
Dr. Bement has served on the boards of several companies. These include Keithley Instruments Inc. and Lord Corporation. He was also an advisor for important research labs. These include the Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He is currently on the Science Advisory Council of the Skolkovo Foundation. He is also the President of the Indiana Academy of Science.
Here are some of the places Dr. Bement has worked:
- 1954-1965: General Electric Company, Senior Research Associate
- 1965-1970: Battelle Northwest Laboratories, Manager of Fuels, Materials, Metallurgy
- 1970-1976: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Professor of Nuclear Materials
- 1976-1979: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Director, Office of Materials Science
- 1979-1980: United States Department of Defense, Deputy Undersecretary for Research and Engineering
- 1980-1992: TRW, Vice President of Technical Resources and of Science and Technology
- 1992-2001: Purdue University, Distinguished Professor of Nuclear Engineering, Materials, Electrical, Computer Engineering
- 1992-2001: Purdue University, Head of the Schools of Nuclear Engineering, Appointment to Krannert School of Management
- 2001-2004: NIST, Director of the National Institute of Standards and Acting Director of NSF from February–November 2004
- 2004-2010: NSF, Director of the National Science Foundation
- 2010-2012: Purdue University, Inaugural Director of Purdue University's Global Policy Research Institute
- 2010-2012: Purdue University, Chief Global Affairs Officer for Purdue University
- 2012-Present: Purdue University, Professor Emeritus and Adjunct Professor, Department of Technology Leadership and Innovation, College of Technology
Amazing Achievements and Awards
Dr. Bement has received many important awards and honors for his work:
- Distinguished Service Medal of the Department of Defense (1980)
- Member of the National Academy of Engineering (1983)
- Member of the Cosmos Club (1980)
- Distinguished Achievement Award from the Colorado School of Mines (1984)
- Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2004)
- Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star awarded by the Emperor of Japan (2009)
- Navigator Award awarded by Potomac Institute for Policy Study (2010)
- Legion of Honor with the rank of Chevalier from the French Republic (2011)
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Graduate School Honorary Professorship (2011)
See Also
- List of directors of the National Institute of Standards and Technology
