Brueckner, Keith A.

Keith A. Brueckner, a professor of physics, held several university administration positions during his career at UCSD: Chair of the Physics Dept. 1959-1961, Dean of the School of Science and Engineering (later called Revelle College), Dean of Letters and Sciences 1963-1965, first Dean of Graduate Studies 1965, and Director of the Institute for Radiation Physics and Aerodynamics 1965-1970.

Theoretical nuclear physicist, consultant for industry and government, and founding member and first chairman of University of California, San Diego's Physics Department.

Professor of physics and administrator at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). Brueckner came to UCSD in 1959. He served as the first chairman of the Dept. of Physics (1959-1961), Dean of the School of Science and Engineering (later called First College and Revelle College), Dean of Letters and Sciences (1963-1965), first Dean of Graduate Studies (1965), and director of the Institute for Radiation Physics and Aerodynamics, later called the Institute for Pure and Applied Physical Sciences (1965-1970).

A theoretical physicist and member of the National Academy of Science whose research has primarily focused on many-body physics and laser fusion. Brueckner has occupied several administrative positions at UC, San Diego, (see his administrative files, RSS 1009) and was responsible for recruiting a significant number of the university's original faculty. Brueckner has been a consultant to the Atomic Energy Commission, the Institute for Defense Analysis, RAND, Convair, and other DOD affiliates.

Theoretical physicist and former UCSD administrator, having served as Chair of the Physics Dept., Dean of the School of Science and Engineering, Dean of Letters and Sciences, and Dean of Graduate Studies.

Administrative History

In 1959, Roger Revelle appointed Keith Brueckner as a professor of physics for the new campus of the University of California, San Diego. As the founding chairman of the Physics Department, Brueckner played a key role in recruiting science faculty for the new School of Science and Engineering, originally planned as a graduate school.

In July 1961, Brueckner took a leave of absence to serve as vice president and director for the Institute for Defense Analyses in Washington, D.C. Upon his return in January 1963, he was appointed Dean of the School of Science and Engineering and spent much of the summer of 1963 recruiting faculty and establishing academic departments. In October 1963, his position title changed to Dean of Letters and Sciences in order to reflect the addition of humanities and social sciences departments.

In February 1965, Brueckner accepted the position of Dean of Graduate Studies, which he held for five months. Citing a desire to return to teaching and research, he became director of the new Institute for Radiation Physics and Aerodynamics (IRPA) which later combined with the Institute for the Study of Matter (ISM) to form the Institute for Pure and Applied Physical Sciences (IPAPS). Brueckner remained director of IPAPS until 1970.

Brueckner participated in campus development as a member of many committees. He served as chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee on Humanities and Social Sciences (1964), the Undergraduate Planning Committee (1964), the Planning Committee for the Second College (1964), the Space Committee (1963-1964), as well as an ex officio member of all Building Advisory Committees for First and Second Colleges. As a member of the Academic Senate, he served on the Campus Planning Committee (1963-1964), the Chancellor's Advisory Council (1963-1964), the Graduate Council (1964-1965), and the Research Committee (1964-1965). In addition, Brueckner participated at the University of California systemwide level as a member of the Council of Engineering Deans (1963-1965).

Biography

Keith Allen Brueckner was born in Minneapolis on March 19, 1924. He earned a B.A. and M.A. in mathematics from the University of Minnesota in 1945 and 1947 and a Ph.D. in physics from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1950. Brueckner's career as a theoretical physicist has been divided between academia, industry, and service to the U.S. government, serving the roles of teacher, administrator, researcher, and consultant. His research has focused on many-body physics and laser fusion.

Brueckner was on the physics faculties at Indiana University (1951-1955) and the University of Pennsylvania (1956-1959) before coming to the University of California, San Diego, in 1959. At UCSD, he was responsible for recruiting faculty to the new campus and setting up the curriculum for the School of Science and Engineering. Among his other administrative responsibilities, Brueckner was Director of the Institute of Radiation Physics and Aerodynamics and, later, Director of the Institute for Pure and Applied Physical Sciences. (See the guide to the Administrative Records of Keith A. Brueckner, 1959-1970, RSS 1009, for more information on his administrative duties at UCSD.)

Outside the academy, Brueckner has been a consultant to the Atomic Energy Commission, the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), RAND, Convair, and the Scientific Advisory Boards of the U.S. Air Force, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and other agencies related to national defense research. He was Vice President and Director of Research at IDA in 1961 and 1962. He was also active in industry through his offices at KMS (Keeve M. Siegel) from 1968 to 1974 and his own consulting business, Keith A. Brueckner and Associates (1974-1978).

Brueckner is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences, a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and was the 1963 recipient of the American Physical Society's Dannie Heinemann Prize. He is currently professor emeritus in the UCSD Physics Department.