John S . Foster , Jr . John Stuart Foster , Jr . ( born September 18 , 1922 ) is an American physicist , best known as the fourth director of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and as Director , Defense Research and Engineering under four Secretaries of Defense and two Presidents . Early Life and Education . Foster was born in New Haven , Connecticut . He received his bachelor ' s degree in 1948 from McGill University , where his father , Canadian physicist John S . Foster , Sr . was a faculty member . The younger Foster received his Ph . D . in physics from the University of California , Berkeley in 1952 , while also serving as a staff member of the university ' s Lawrence Livermore Laboratory . Early career . During World War II , before he received his bachelor ' s degree , Foster began his career in the Radio Research Laboratory at Harvard University . He was an advisor to the 15th Air Force on radar and radar countermeasures in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations in 1943 and 1944 . In the summers of 1946 and 1947 , he worked on the Canadian nuclear power project in Chalk River , Ontario . Lawrence Livermore Laboratory . In 1952 , Foster was recruited to Lawrence Livermore Laboratory by founder Edward Teller , and became a division leader in experimental physics . He was promoted to associate director in 1958 , and director of the Livermore Laboratory and associate director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in 1961 , in which positions he served until 1965 . Department of Defense . Foster was appointed Director , Defense Research and Engineering , a position then considered the number three job in the Department of Defense , by Secretary of Defense Robert S . McNamara in October , 1965 . He continued in this position until June , 1973 , serving under Presidents Johnson and Nixon , and under Secretaries of Defense McNamara , Clifford , Laird , and Richardson . Later career . From 1973 , Foster was vice president , science and technology of TRW , retiring in 1988 . He continued to serve on the board of directors of TRW from 1988 to 1994 . He is a Consultant to Northrop Grumman , Ninesigma , Wackenhut Services , Inc . , and Defense Group , Inc . He is also Chairman of the Board of Pilkington Aerospace , Inc . , and Chairman of Technology Strategies and Alliances . From 1973 until 1990 , he was a member of the President ' s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board . He was a long serving member of the Defense Science Board and served as chairman of the DSB from January 1990 to June 1993 . Public Positions . Fosters public positions have consistently reflected his support of a robust U . S . nuclear stockpile . During the George W . Bush administration , Foster was a prominent advocate for a return to nuclear testing and for the design of a new generation of U . S . nuclear weapons . He chaired the " Panel to Assess the Reliability , Safety , and Security of the United States Nuclear Stockpile , " created in 1998 by Republican Sen . Jon Kyl of Arizona , a longtime foe of the comprehensive test ban . The panel , popularly known as the " Foster Panel " issued several reports advocating increased weapons spending . Foster was a prominent member of the Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from Electromagnetic Pulse ( EMP ) Attack , established by the 2001 defense authorization act . The Commission ' s report called for strong defensive measures across a wide range of industries and public services . Honors and Awards . Foster received the Founders Award from the National Academy of Engineering in 1989 , and the Enrico Fermi Award in 1992 . Other awards include the Ernest Orlando Lawrence Award of the Atomic Energy Commission ( 1960 ) , the Defense Department ' s Distinguished Public Service Medals ( 1969 , 1973 , 1993 ) , election to the National Academy of Engineering ( 1969 ) , the James Forrestal Memorial Award ( 1969 ) , the H . H . Arnold Trophy ( 1971 ) , the Crowell Medal ( 1972 ) , the WEMA Award ( 1973 ) , and the Knight Commander ' s Cross ( Badge and Star ) of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany ( 1974 ) . Foster is a commander , Legion of Honor , Republic of France .