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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.15
                              CONSULTING AGREEMENT
                              --------------------


     This Consulting Agreement ("Agreement") is made this 7th day of November,
1996, between Richard E. Schmidt ("Schmidt") and Newport Corporation, a Nevada
corporation ("Newport").

                                R E C I T A L S
                                ---------------

     A.   Schmidt has been an employee, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
Newport for several years and is scheduled to retire on December 31, 1996; and

     B.   Newport and Schmidt now desire to provide for a consulting
relationship between the parties following Schmidt's retirement.

     NOW THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:

     1.   Consulting.  Newport shall engage Schmidt as a business consultant and
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Schmidt shall serve Newport in such capacity, upon the terms hereinafter set
forth.

     2.   Consulting Term.  The period of Schmidt's engagement as a consultant
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shall begin on January 1, 1997 and extend for a period of twelve (12) months
thereafter.

          Newport may, at its sole option, extend this Agreement for successive
additional twelve (12) month periods or any fraction thereof, subject to the
willingness of Schmidt to continue to serve in the capacity as consultant.  Each
such additional period shall be deemed to be a new Consulting Term hereunder.

          Should this Agreement be in force at the time of change in control
(defined in Section 5), this Agreement shall automatically renew and extend from
the date of Schmidt's retirement to a date five (5) years later, with all terms
and conditions as set forth herein.

     3.   Duties.  During the Consulting Term, so long as Schmidt is being
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compensated hereunder, Schmidt shall, from time to time, at mutually agreed upon
times, render such advice and consultation in such manner as Newport shall make
known, including without limitation, advice and consultation regarding strategic
planning, management, financial analysis, product planning or other corporate
matters.

          Subject to Section 7 regarding confidentiality, Schmidt may engage in
other activities during the Consulting Term, provided he is able to make himself
reasonably available to Newport from time to time for consultation assignments.

     4.   Compensation - Consulting Term.  As compensation for Schmidt's
          ------------------------------                                
services as a consultant for each twelve-month Consulting Term, Newport shall
pay Schmidt a fee in the sum of 


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$100,000 plus travel expenses, if any, incurred by Schmidt in rendering such
services. Payment of such amount shall be made on a quarterly basis during each
Consulting Term.

     5.   Change in Control.
          ----------------- 

          "Change in control" of Newport shall mean a change in control of a
nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of
Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended ("Exchange Act"); provided that, without limitation, such a
change in control shall be deemed to have occurred if (a) any "person" (as such
term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes
the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of Newport
representing 30% of more of the combined voting power of Newport's then
outstanding securities ordinarily (apart from rights accruing under special
circumstances) having the right to vote at elections of directors, (b) the
persons who were directors of Newport immediately prior to any merger,
consolidation, sale of assets or securities, contested election, or any
combination of the foregoing, shall as a result thereof cease to constitute a
majority of the Board of Directors of Newport or its successor, or (c)the
persons who were directors of Newport immediately prior to a tender offer or
exchange offer for the voting stock of Newport (other than by Newport or a
subsidiary) shall, within two (2) years after the making of such tender or
exchange offer, cease to constitute a majority of the Board of Directors of
Newport or its successor.

     6.   Death or Disability.
          ------------------- 

          (a) In the event of Schmidt's death or disability prior to a change in
control as set forth in Section 5 above:

               (i) If, during the course of the Consulting Term, Schmidt dies,
          the consulting provisions of this Agreement, as applicable, shall
          terminate, and Schmidt's estate shall be paid, within fifteen (15)
          days, a termination settlement of twelve (12) months of fee as set
          forth in Section 4(a).

               (ii) If, during the course of the Consulting Term, Schmidt
          suffers a physical or mental disability due to illness or incapacity
          such that, based on competent medical evidence, Schmidt is unable to
          carry out the duties to be performed by him hereunder, the consulting
          provisions of this Agreement shall terminate, and Schmidt's estate
          shall be paid, within fifteen (15) days, a termination settlement of
          twelve (12) months of fee as set forth in Section 4(a).

          (b) In the event of the death or disability of Schmidt following a
change in control, Schmidt or his estate shall continue to receive payments as
set forth in Section 4 for the remainder of the term of the Agreement, as
defined in Section 2.

     7.   Confidentiality.  During the Consulting Term, Schmidt shall refrain
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from directly or indirectly, for his own account or as agent, servant, employee
or member of any firm (a) disclosing to any other person or entity any
confidential information or trade secrets of Newport, without Newport's written
consent, and (b) engaging, hiring, employing or soliciting the 


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employment of any of Newport's then employees or of the then employees of any of
Newport's affiliates or subsidiaries. The violation of any of these provisions
shall provide just cause for the full and unconditional release, without
liability to Newport, of all of Newport's obligations hereunder.

     8.   Miscellaneous.
          ------------- 

          (a) Assignment.  The performance of Schmidt contemplated hereunder is
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personal in nature and, accordingly, neither this Agreement nor any part thereof
may be assigned by either party hereto.

          (b) Successors and Affiliates.  Except as otherwise provided herein,
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this Agreement is binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties
hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs and personal
representatives and, in the case of Newport, any successor by operation of law
or otherwise.  Newport shall require any successor (whether direct or indirect,
by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of
the business and/or assets of Newport, by agreement in form satisfactory to
Schmidt, to expressly assume and perform this Agreement in the same manner and
to the same extent that Newport would be required to perform and if no such
succession had taken place.

          (c) Waiver and Amendment.  A party's failure to enforce any of its
              --------------------                                          
rights hereunder shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such rights, unless such
waiver is in writing and signed by the waiving party.  Waiver of any one breach
shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any other breach of the same or any other
provisions hereof.  This Agreement may be amended only by a written agreement
executed by either party hereto.

          (d) Governing Law.  The validity of this Agreement, the construction
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of its terms and the determination of the rights and duties of the parties
hereto shall all be governed by the laws of the State of California.

          (e) Entire Agreement.  This Agreement contains the sole and entire
              ----------------                                              
agreement and understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter
hereof, and any and all prior discussions, negotiations, commitments, letters of
intent, memoranda, writings and understandings related hereto, are hereby
superseded.  No representations oral or otherwise, express or implied, other
than those contained herein, have been made by any party hereto.

          (f) Severability.  This Agreement is severable to the extent that if
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any of its provisions should be declared invalid by court of competent
jurisdiction, the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall
not thereby be adversely affected.


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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Consulting
Agreement as of the date and year first above written.


                                    NEWPORT CORPORATION,
                                    a Nevada corporation



                                    By: /s/ Robert G. Deuster
                                        --------------------------
                                        Robert G. Deuster,
                                        Chief Executive Officer



                                        /s/Richard E. Schmidt
                                        --------------------------
                                        Richard E. Schmidt



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