Arden L. Bement Jr.

Dr. Arden L. Bement, Jr. (born May 22, 1932 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is an American engineer and scientist, and is currently Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Dr. Bement was confirmed as NSF Director on November 24, 2004, after having served as Acting Director since February 22 of that year. He joined NSF from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), where he had been Director since December 7, 2001. He had previously served both organizations in an advisory capacity, including a term on the NSF's National Science Board from 1989-1995.

Prior to his appointment as NIST director, Dr. Bement served as the David Ross Distinguished Professor of Nuclear Engineering and head of the School of Nuclear Engineering at Purdue University. He had joined the Purdue faculty in 1992 after a 39-year career in industry, government, and academia, which included the following positions:
* 1980-1992, TRW: vice president of technical resources and of science and technology
* 1979-1980, U.S. Department of Defense: deputy under secretary for research and engineering
* 1976-1979, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency: Director, Office of Materials Science
* 1970-1976, Massachusetts Institute of Technology: professor of nuclear materials
* 1965-1970, Battelle Northwest Laboratories
* 1954-1965, General Electric Company

Bement holds an engineer of metallurgy degree from the Colorado School of Mines, a master's degree in metallurgical engineering from the University of Idaho, a doctorate degree in metallurgical engineering from the University of Michigan, an honorary doctorate degree in engineering from Cleveland State University, an honorary doctorate degree in science from Case Western Reserve University, and an honorary doctorate degree in engineering from the Colorado School of Mines. He is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

External links

* [http://www.nsf.gov/news/speeches/bement/bement_bio.jsp Biography on the NSF website]