Advisory Experiences wih the DOD, DOE and the Intelligence Community

Consulting for the U.S. government on national security can be a win-win experience. The consultants participating on panels, committees, boards and commissions are exposed to critical national security challenges and are tasked to provide their findings and recommended actions. University professors participating on a committee bring a wealth of professional scientific experience to the deliberations and they obtain a broader understanding of national security needs and the contribution that can be provided by the university. This process has produced such spectacular contributions as microwave radar, nuclear reactors, nuclear and smart weapons, satellites, lasers and the GPS. Of course, the government doesn't always choose to implement the committee's recommendations, and that can be frustrating. The presentation will describe a number of personal experiences and suggest some ``lessons to be learned'' to make the consulting experience more effective for the government and satisfying for the consultants.