Fusion Energy Division Dr. Kenneth R. Schultz Undergraduate Scholarship

The ANS Fusion Energy Division Dr. Kenneth R. Schultz Undergraduate Scholarship was established by the FED in 2016 for undergraduate students who have a demonstrated interest in fusion energy and fusion energy technology.

Dr. Ken Schultz retired in 2011 after a 40-year career as a nuclear engineer at General Atomics in San Diego, working on a wide variety of nuclear projects. These include the Energy Multiplier Module gas-cooled fast reactor development, the Next Generation Nuclear Plant design, and investigation of the use of nuclear power to produce hydrogen for fuel cell vehicle applications. He was the Director of General Atomics’ Inertial Fusion Technology Division and also Manager of the General Atomics Magnetic Fusion Technology Development Department, and worked on design of their High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor. Prior to joining General Atomics in 1971, he worked on boiling water reactor core design at General Electric’s Nuclear Energy Division.

Dr. Schultz was also the project manager on the ARIES Tokamak Design Study, the DOE ICF Reactor Design Study, and General Atomics’ ITER Plasma Engineering Support task. He was the technical lead on the initial ITER First Wall/Divertor Design and headed the TITAN Reversed Field Pinch Reactor Design and Fusion Applications Study projects. He has served on several fusion technical policy panels including the Environment Safety and Economics Committee (ESECOM) and the Low Activation Materials Panel. Dr. Schultz previously led similar fusion engineering projects that include the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Small Reactor Design Studies, the Fusion Synfuel Reactor Design, a series of hybrid reactor studies, and the Blanket Comparison and Selection Study. He also directed GA's Blanket/Shield Thermal Experiments, and the design and construction of the Lithium Blanket Module for the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR).

Dr. Schultz received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University (1964), M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University (1965), and PhD.in Nuclear Engineering Sciences, University of Florida (1971). He was a lifetime member of the American Nuclear Society and has served twice on its Board of Directors, has chaired the Technical Journals Committee, has been a member of the ANS Fusion Science and Technology Journal editorial advisory committee, and the Fusion Energy Division Executive Committee. He was a past chair of the ANS Fusion Energy Division and an Individual Affiliate of Fusion Power Associates. He was active in the ANS San Diego Section and a Registered Professional Nuclear Engineer.

Dr. Schultz passed away in 2024.