Arden L. Bement Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arden L. Bement Jr.
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Bement in 2010
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| 12th Director of the National Science Foundation | |
| In office 2004–2010 |
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| 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 |
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| 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. (born May 22, 1932) is an American engineer and scientist. He has held important leadership roles in government, private companies, and universities.
Bement is known for his work with nuclear materials and for helping create advanced materials for the U.S. military. For his achievements, he was elected as a member of the prestigious National Academy of Engineering in 1983.
He has led major U.S. science organizations, including the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). After his time at the NSF, he returned to Purdue University to start a new research institute.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Arden Bement was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After high school, he began working at a mine. His boss, Prentice Cain, saw his potential and encouraged him to go to college at the Colorado School of Mines.
Mr. Cain even offered to pay for Bement's first semester of college. He told Bement that if he passed his first semester, he wouldn't have to pay the money back. This act of kindness changed Bement's life and set him on a path to becoming a famous scientist and engineer.
Bement earned many degrees throughout his life. He has a degree in metallurgy from the Colorado School of Mines, a master's degree from the University of Idaho, and a doctorate (Ph.D.) from the University of Michigan. He has also received several honorary doctorates from universities around the world.
In addition to his science career, Bement served in the United States Army Corps of Engineers and retired as a lieutenant colonel.
A Career in Science and Leadership
Dr. Bement has had a long and varied career, working in many different fields. He has been a professor, a company executive, and a government leader.
Working for the Government
Dr. Bement has advised U.S. presidents and Congress on science policy. He served as the director of two very important science agencies:
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) from 2001 to 2004. NIST is in charge of setting standards for technology and measurement in the United States.
- National Science Foundation (NSF) from 2004 to 2010. The NSF funds research and education in science and engineering across the country. He served under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.
He also worked for the United States Department of Defense, where he was in charge of research and advanced technology.
Working in Business and at Universities
Before his government roles, Dr. Bement worked for major companies like the General Electric Company and TRW. At TRW, he was the Vice President of Science and Technology.
He was also a professor at the famous Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and later at Purdue University. At Purdue, he was a distinguished professor in several engineering departments and even led the School of Nuclear Engineering.
After leaving the government in 2010, he returned to Purdue to create the Global Policy Research Institute, which studies how science and technology can help solve global problems.
Career Highlights
- 1954–1965: Senior Research Associate at General Electric Company
- 1965–1970: Manager at Battelle Northwest Laboratories
- 1970–1976: Professor of Nuclear Materials at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
- 1976–1980: Director and Deputy Undersecretary at the United States Department of Defense
- 1980–1992: Vice President at TRW
- 1992–2001: Professor and Head of Nuclear Engineering at Purdue University
- 2001–2004: Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
- 2004–2010: Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF)
- 2010–Present: Professor and leader at Purdue University
Awards and Honors
Dr. Bement has received many awards for his service and scientific contributions. Some of the most notable include:
- The Department of Defense's Distinguished Service Medal (1980)
- Membership in the National Academy of Engineering (1983)
- Membership in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2004)
- The Order of the Rising Sun, a high honor from the Emperor of Japan (2009)
- The Legion of Honor, an award from the French Republic (2011)
- An honorary professorship from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (2011)
See also
- List of directors of the National Institute of Standards and Technology
