Background
Browne, John Charles was born on July 29, 1942 in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of Charles Ignatius and Mary Agnes (Titzer) Browne.
laboratory executive physics researcher research
Browne, John Charles was born on July 29, 1942 in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of Charles Ignatius and Mary Agnes (Titzer) Browne.
Bachelor of Science, Drexel University, 1965. Doctor of Philosophy, Duke University, 1969. Doctor of Science (honorary), Drexel University, 1998.
He received a Bachelor of Surgery in Physics from Drexel University (1965) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania His thesis (advisors: Edward G Bilpuch, Gary Mitchell) was titled "Fine Structure of Analog States in 61,63,65-Cu."
After teaching at Duke University (1969-1970), he joined Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, California where he did research in basic and applied nuclear physics at a 100-MeV electron linac, including studies into nuclear fission and nuclear astrpophysics. He joined Los Alamos National Laboratory in 1979 as head of Group P-3, the neutron physics group in the LANL Physics division, helping to start a new research effort in weak interaction physics.
He became Physics Division Leader in 1981, succeeding George A. Keyworth, who became President Ronald Reagan"s science advisor.
When Siegfried Hecker became Laboratory Director in 1986, he appointed Browne to a series of posts. In 1986, Browne became Associate Director for Research with responsibility for programs and divisions associated with the research funded by the Department of Energy Office of Energy Research.
He then served as Associate Director for Defense Research and Applications (1986-1991) where he was responsible for programs funded by the Department of Defense and the Intelligence community. In 1991, he became Associate Director for Computational and Information Sciences.
In 1993, he took over responsibilities for the Los Alamos Meson Physics Facility (LAMPF) changing its name to the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE), reflecting its mission change to neutron science for materials science and for fundamental and defense-related neutron studies.
In 1997, he was appointed by the University of California to be the sixth Director of Los Alamos National Laboratory. During his tenure as Director, he strengthened the science-based stockpile stewardship program, created in the mid 1990s by Victor H. Reis of the Department of Energy, which emphasizes computational study of nuclear weapons in the absence of nuclear testing. During Browne"s tenure, the Wen Ho Lee spy investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation erupted onto the national scene, particularly after release of the Cox Report by the United States House of Representatives in 1999.
Having started in the early 1990s, the controversy eventually culminated in Lee"s release from prison.
During Browne"s tenure, the Laboratory experienced growth in nuclear weapons research, counter terrorism and intelligence research programs, including two new buildings (Non-Proliferation and International Security Center, Nicholas Metropolis Supercomputing Center). He was also instrumental in creating support for the non-profit Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation, founded in 1997 to enhance the vitality of northern New Mexico through investing in education, learning and community development. in January 2003, Browne resigned as Laboratory Director during a controversy surrounding thefts of government property by several employees and accusations regarding the adequacy of administrative controls.
The controversy prompted Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham to say: ".. taken together, these problems have called into question the University of California"s ability to run the Los Alamos National Laboratory." The University quickly installed Pete Nanos as succeeding director Browne is now retired from Los Alamos and serves on a number of non-profit boards.
He was appointed a Fellow of the American Physical Society in 1987 and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) in 2000.
Board member Hertz Foundation, since 2000, Nevada Test Site Historical Foundation, since 2004. Fellow American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Physical Society.
Married Susan Mary Mazzarella, December 30, 1972 (divorced December 1984). Children– Christopher Ryan, Adam Charles. Married Marti Moore, May 4, 1985.
1 child, Courtney Keese.