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The spark of the Super: Teller–Ulam and the birth of the H-bomb—rivalry, credit, and legacy at 75 years
In early 1951, Los Alamos scientists Edward Teller and Stanislaw Ulam devised a breakthrough that would lead to the hydrogen bomb [1]. Their design gave the United States an initial advantage in the Cold War, though comparable progress was soon achieved independently in the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom.
2020 ANS Virtual Winter Meeting Plenary Session Speaker
Jon Ball is the Executive Vice President of Nuclear Products for GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH), headquartered in Wilmington, NC. In this role, Jon has responsibility for a portfolio of small modular reactors (SMRs), advanced reactors, nuclear fuels, instrumentation and controls, digital solutions and a broad range of engineered solutions and products.
Jon has been in the nuclear industry for 27 years and has a wide range of experience in P&L leadership, manufacturing, global operations, services and quality. Previously, he served as Executive Vice President, New Plant Projects where he positioned GEH with new SMR and advanced reactor innovations. Prior to that role, Jon served as Senior Vice President, Global Supply Chain, leading more than 1,000 employees in manufacturing and logistics for GEH’s worldwide operations. He has also spent several years in Services where he led GEH’s Field Services and Performance Services businesses and held several positions in GE’s nuclear fuels business, including Global Supply Chain Leader, Quality Manager and Lab Manager. Prior to joining GE, Jon was a Senior Chemist for Westinghouse at their Hanford operations.
Jon received a B.S. in Chemistry from Pacific Lutheran University and a Ph.D. in Chemistry from The Pennsylvania State University. He is a certified six sigma Master Black Belt and has also completed the MIT Reactor Technology Course for Utility Executives.
Last modified October 19, 2020, 10:23am EDT
