Paul White

mlpcwhite@gmail.com

Much of this was in the 50th Class Book, but here's a quick reprise. Stimulated by math and physics courses at NMH, I pursued a physics major in college with a focus on general relativity theory; BA from Harpur College; MA from SUNY Binghamton; and PhD from University of Texas at Austin. Taught for 6 years as Assoc. Prof. of Physics at St. Edwards U. in Austin before moving to Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. Dealt with some of the many challenges of nuclear weapons physics for a number of years before being lured into Lab and program management. Spent some time as technical advisor to arms control negotiations in Geneva, leading to role in developing, implementing and managing programs to secure Russian nuclear material. Wound up career as Acting Deputy Director for National Security and National Security Advisor to the Director, before retiring in 2008.

This falls in the “it’s hard to know where to begin” category…. So, rather arbitrarily, I’ll work backwards. In April, I spent a week in Moscow working with Russian collaborators and US colleagues on a book documenting the remarkable history of mutually beneficial cooperation among scientists of the six US and Russian nuclear weapons institutes. In the midst of so much current tension between our governments, we enjoyed several days of collegial and constructive progress on the chapters that will comprise the book, complemented by hours of friendly (and sometimes lubricated) conversation and reminiscing. These technical interactions simply must continue in spite of our political differences!

Last summer I finished collaboration with a dear friend at the Russian Institutes of Technical Physics (Chelyabinsk-70) in Snezhinsk as the editor of the English language version of his memoir of the US-Russian Joint Verification Experiment (JVE). The book is Trust But Verify, by N. P. Voloshin, RFNC-VNIITF, 2013, and was published just in time for the October celebration in Las Vegas of the 25th anniversary of the JVE. Don’t look for copies on Amazon as the limited run was, in Nikolay’s words, intended ‘for presentation’ and not for sale.

Since just before our 50th Reunion, I’ve been spending a week or two each summer hiking sections of the Appalachian Trail. We did the Vermont section in 2009, spent two weeks doing the New Hampshire segment in 2010, and then deviated from the AT to do part of the Tahoe Rim Trail in 2011, and a section of the John Muir Trail in 2012. Then some of us really broke ranks for an exhilarating experience hiking the Tour du Mont Blanc (110 miles, 35,000 vertical feet) last summer. After our 55th, the group will return to the AT, finishing key segments of New Hampshire and then jumping into Maine to climb Kathadin.

In between, Margaret and I have continued to enjoy our laid back, retired life in Northern New Mexico, spiced up with family visits. Last fall we had almost a week with our granddaughter and newly arrived grandson – and their parents – in Seattle for Thanksgiving. Earlier in spring of 2013 we took a rambling driving trip to see our other son and daughter-in-law, recently moved to Santa Cruz, CA. Along the way we paid a first-time visit to the Grand Canyon and later introduced Margaret to Yosemite.

It sure was great to see all who came to the 55th! Missed you, Tinker. I do find it remarkable how we get better acquainted, come to know each other better at these reunions than when we were in school - understandable, but still remarkable.

Margaret and I strike out in mid-June for a leisurely driving trip to see our younger son, Nathan, his lovely wife, Susie, and our two grandchildren, Luna and Beckett, in Seattle. Along the way we'll spend 4 nights in Yellowstone - another of those western wonderlands we've never visited in all our 39 years in New Mexico. Then in August, I'll join my hiking gang back in New England for another segment of the Appalachian Trail. More adventures to follow, I'm sure.

Cheers to all '59ers.

Cottage IV - Freshman; Overton - Sophomore; South Crosley - Junior; Hayden - Senior.

Among faculty, I would list TD, Doc Westin and Harry Snow. Memorable fellow students & former roommates - Dan Poteet & Tinker Greene.

Yes

Plan to attend the 60th