A publication of the Advanced Simulation & Computing Division, NA-121.2, NNSA Defense Programs
June 2009
NA-ASC-500-09—Issue 11
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ASC Salutes Bob Little
Hardly a newcomer to ASC, Robert C. “Bob” Little, from Los Alamos National Laboratory, was selected this spring as Program Manager for the Physics and Engineering Models (PEM) p rogram e lement within ASC. The PEM program develops and implements the theory and models that are incorporated into simulation codes. As well as working especially closely with the Integrated Codes and V&V program elements, the PEM program plays an essential role in working with the experimental campaigns to help motivate and interpret measurements and to utilize measured results to improve models and data bases. Also, high-performance computing simulations sponsored by the PEM program on platforms such as Roadrunner and BG/L are providing exciting insights into the physical processes important to the nuclear weapons (NW) program as well as other areas of interest to the laboratories and the Department of Energy (DOE).
Bob acknowledges the major challenge that is under way to establish the Predictive Capability Framework (PCF) that coordinates computational and experimental efforts. “PEM is a critical centerpiece of the PCF. The PCF cannot be successful without PEM,” he says. PCF defines major activities associated with the improvements in predictive capability for stockpile stewardship and coordinates those activities among the ASC, Defense Science, Engineering, and Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) campaigns.
Bob already leads two of the PEM projects — the nuclear and atomic projects— and in the past he has led the EOS project. He also leads the work on forensics within ASC. He has previously served as a group leader in Applied Physics (X-) Division and currently serves as deputy group leader of the Nuclear Atomic and EOS Data Section of the Applied Science and Methods Development Group in X-Division. He joined Los Alamos in 1980 and has bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in nuclear engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He is a Fellow of the American Nuclear Society. He received the Los Alamos Fellows’ Prize for Leadership, with which he was recognized for his scientific leadership and operation of the Nuclear and Atomic Data Team that provides national and international computational communities with neutron-photon data libraries that are the international “gold standard” and with new Monte Carlo physics models, some of which are dedicated to critical applications in programs at Los Alamos such as the NW program, nuclear nonproliferation, and emergency response. He is a three-time recipient of the DOE Award of Excellence for significant contributions to the NW program.
Bob Little, on the right, accepts from LANL Director Mike Anastasio a large-team distinguished performance award for the National Technical Nuclear Forensics (Attribution) Simulation Team.
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