Interview with Thomas A. Tombrello - Caltech Oral Histories

Tombrello–vii
97-103
Comments on challenges and rewards of overseeing a for-profit research laboratory.
Relationship with company VP A. Salaber. Tombrello threatens to put ten employees out in the
falling snow unless upper management clarifies reporting relationship. Establishes new mentorbased
evaluation system for lab scientists. Differences and similarities between academic and
corporate research environments and personal/professional qualities needed for success.
103-109
Comments on quality of Caltech tenure deliberations. As PMA chair, establishes tracking
committees to mentor and monitor division’s tenure-track faculty. History of child care at
Caltech. Confidence-building effect of Schlumberger experience. Valuable experience gained
in evaluating personalities and setting priorities. How novel The Godfather and two Godfather
movies affected half-Sicilian Tombrello.
Session 6
110-116
J. Benton’s pioneering interdisciplinary use of Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) imaging
technology to study old manuscripts. Caltech giants R. Bacher and R. Sharp as scientists and
administrators: leadership, contributions, and distinctive contrasting personal styles. J. R.
Oppenheimer’s visionary leadership of Los Alamos, particularly his relationship with S.
Neddermeyer and E. Teller. Oppenheimer biographer J. Bernstein’s research into subject’s years
at Caltech.
117-126
Comments on R. P. Feynman, M. Gell-Mann, and F. Zwicky: Zwicky’s originality and
unexpected humanity; Gell-Mann’s brilliance, arrogance, and showmanship; the “Feynman
effect.” Recap of the 2004 H. D. Politzer Nobel saga, from first intimations that Politzer will
win the prize to the publicity-averse laureate’s non-appearance at his own press conference.
Politics of the Nobel Prize; contributions of Politzer, D. Gross, F. Wilzcek, and G. ’t Hooft to
asymptotic freedom model. A. Lange’s Nobel-caliber work (BOOMERanG experiment) on
anisotropy in microwave background radiation; J. Kimble and K. Thorne as possible future
physics laureates. Comments on Nobel award in economics to R. Merton (Tombrello’s brotherin-law).
Recollections of economist F. Black.
126-130
Recollections of C. Patterson’s unique personality and landmark measurements of lead pollution.
Circumstances of P. Goldreich’s hiring onto GPS faculty. Nobel laureate A. Zewail as “great
Caltech success story.”
130-137
L. DuBridge and R. Bacher as Caltech president and provost. Selection of H. Brown as
DuBridge’s successor and his presidency. Diversification and expansion of social sciences under
Brown; ongoing constraints affecting humanities and social science (HSS) programs at Caltech.
R. Christy’s tenure as Brown’s provost. Selection of M. Goldberger as Brown’s successor and
http://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechOH:OH_Tombrello_T