Bryan V. Oliver was born and raised in Berkeley, California USA. He received the B.S. degree in physics from the University of California at San Diego (UCSD) in 1988 and the M.S. and Ph.D. degree in theoretical plasma physics from Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, in 1991 and 1994, respectively.
Dr. Oliver is the Director of the Radiation and Electrical Sciences Center at Sandia National Laboratories. His primary areas of expertise are in theory and simulation of intense electron and ion beam generation and propagation, Fusion plasmas, Z-pinches, X-ray radiography, Radiation Effects and intense Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP). He leads the Sandia effort to study the effects of electro-magnetic and radiation environments on materials and electronics. His Center is also responsible for supporting the qualification of devices, circuits and components in intense space and terrestrial radiation environments. His team manages multiple pulsed power accelerators and pulsed nuclear facilities as well as high power EM facilities that create the radiation environments that are relevant for such studies and evaluations. Further, he has responsibility for the development of large scale, high performance, radiation transport and plasma simulation codes as well radiation informed circuit codes. As the Center Director he is responsible for the execution of Sandia’s Weapons Survivability program and the Nuclear Criticality Safety Program.
Dr. Oliver serves on various professional committees in Pulsed-Power Science and Technology and Nuclear and Plasma Sciences, he is the recipient of multiple NNSA Defense Programs Awards of Excellence, the Department of Energy Secretary’s Achievement Award and is a Fellow of the Institutes for Electronics and Electrical Engineers.