Amir is a Senior Scientist at the Center for the Global Security and Cooperation and the Managing Director of the Cooperative Monitoring Center (CMC) at Sandia National Laboratories. He received his doctorate in experimental high energy atomic physics from the University of New Mexico in 1990, with the dissertation research performed at the Los Alamos National Laboratory.
He currently leads a group of experts that conduct research and strategic development for Sandia’s global security programs. For the past two decades, he has been responsible for developing and implementing a number of programs for international engagement and cooperation on reducing the WMD threats. His responsibilities include cooperative regional programs that cover a wide spectrum of national security issues where science and technology can play a constructive role. These programs include a regional security center in Jordan, an institute in the United Arab Emirates focused on educating future regional policy makers on responsible and safe nuclear energy, WMD nonproliferation challenges, nuclear consequence management, interdiction and border security, energy and water issues, and international S&T cooperation.
Previously at Sandia, for over ten years Amir directed multi-mission nuclear chemistry, analytical, and radiation measurement laboratories. In recognition of his contributions, he was recogonized as Distinguished Member of the Technical Staff. Before joining Sandia, Amir was the technical coordinator for Thermo Electron Eberline Corporation’s nuclear measurements services. Prior, he spent five years at Los Alamos National Laboratory as a research associate conducting scientific studies for the Strategic Defense Initiative program.
Amir is also an adjunct professor at the University of New Mexico, where he has taught a graduate course on the interaction of radiation with matter and given lectures for an interdisciplinary course on nonproliferation science and policy. He has written over a hundred technical and policy papers for various journals, conferences, and USG agencies.
Amir is married with two children. His personal interests include science education, hiking, soccer, sailing, poetry, and history.
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