February 28, 2007 

Dear Colleague,

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Raymond J. Fonck to be the Associate Director of the Office of Fusion Energy Science (OFES) in the Department’s Office of Science.  Ray will formally assume the role of Associate Director on March 1, 2007

Ray is joining the DOE from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he held the position of Steenbock Professor of Physical Sciences.  A recognized leader in the fusion field, Ray was appointed to chair the Burning Plasma Organization, which was established to orchestrate community input for U.S. participation in the International ITER Project and to provide advice on the future of fusion energy.  He was named Chief Scientist for the new U.S. ITER project office earlier this year.  Ray is the recipient of several awards, including the Fusion Power Associates 2004 Leadership Award.  He has also published over 180 journal publication on fusion plasma science and measurements.

Ray joins OFES at a very exciting time for fusion energy research: the U.S. is embarking on an international collaboration to build the world’s first fusion reactor designed to achieve and sustain a burning plasma (a self-sustaining fusion reaction): ITER.  He will be responsible for the US participation in ITER, ensuring that the U.S. appropriately directs fusion research resources to maximize the benefits derived from ITER.

I am very pleased that we were able to attract the highest quality person to manage our fusion program, and would like you all to welcome Ray as he joins the Office of Science.