Dr. Jill Dahlburg, formerly of the U. S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), has joined the General Atomics Fusion Group. During her fifteen year career at NRL, Jill made significant contributions to plasma physics and inertial confinement fusion (ICF). She spearheaded the development of RAD3D, the first three-dimensional multi-group radiation transport hydro-code appropriate for laser-plasma modeling. RAD3D has remained a premier simulation code in that field for more than a decade. Using this and other laser matter interaction simulation tools, Jill worked on and contributed to the understanding of the Raleigh Taylor instability, implosion and coronal hydrodynamics, and laser beam imprinting. Her collaborations have included scientists in both the national and international ICF communities.

Because of her work and reputation in the field, Jill has served on numerous review and other committees for the Department of Energy, the National Academy of Sciences/ National Research Council, the National Science Foundation, and the American Physical Society. Her awards include the NRL Alan Berman Research Publication Awards in 1991, 1994, 1996 and 2000; and being named APS Centennial Speaker for 1998-99 and APS/DPP Distinguished Lecturer for 1999-00.

Most recently, Jill has been Head of the Distributed Sensor Technology Office for the Tactical Electronic Warfare Division of NRL. From that Office she was Principal Investigator for the Navy Micro Air Vehicle Program, and Co-Principal Investigator on the Dragon Eye Program. Complementing the larger GA Predator, Dragon Eye is an airborne robotic sensor system that is being developed in direct response to a Secretary of the Navy’s initiative to enhance over-the-hill reconnaissance capabilities of the US Marine Corps. Dragon Eye, which was profiled in the January 2001 issue of the Marine Corps Gazette (http://www.mca-marines.org/Gazette/gaz.html), may well become the first Unmanned Air Vehicle system to transition to military production. In her role as PI on these sensor system programs, Jill provided leadership to multidisciplinary teams of engineers, scientists, and technicians.

Jill's responsibilities at General Atomics will be divided between Director of GA's Division of Inertial Fusion Technology and Co-Director with Dr. Vincent Chan of GA's Center for Fusion Theory and Computations. In the former position, she will work with senior management and the technical team to further realize the vision of a Center of Excellence in target fabrication science and technology, as well as develop the fast-ignitor fusion approach with our national and international colleagues. As Co-Directors of the T/C Center, Jill and Vince will work to expand and strengthen GA's capability in this important area, enabling GA to pursue new computational opportunities and to develop the tools supporting its work in Fast Ignitor and other photonics topics.

A major factor in Jill's decision to join GA was her desire to reenter active fusion R&D.

Dr. Ken Schultz will have a new assignment as Director for Operations, Lasers and Inertial Fusion (L&IF)at General Atomics. Ken has led GA’s participation in the national ICF Program for the past twelve years. In his new position, he will be part of the L&IF senior management team, including Mike Campbell, Mike Perry (who will continue as Director of the GA Photonics Division) and Jill Dahlburg, that will manage and oversee this important and growing part of General Atomics.