Interview with Thomas A. Tombrello - Caltech Oral Histories
Interview with Thomas A. Tombrello - Caltech Oral Histories
Interview with Thomas A. Tombrello - Caltech Oral Histories
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<strong>Tombrello</strong>–44<br />
There’s a more complicated story of what happens next, but the short version is, it goes through.<br />
We hire him as professor of physics.<br />
That was a clear victory of the staffing approach, but there were others. By then, the<br />
staffing committee has become a power in its own right. In some ways, it takes power away<br />
from the division chair; it forms another power center <strong>with</strong>in the division. But it also can make<br />
the division chair look awfully good.<br />
ASPATURIAN: Sure.<br />
TOMBRELLO: So then [1993], Charlie [Charles W.] Peck [professor of physics, emeritus]<br />
becomes division chair. How Peck got chosen is an interesting story. I only know a little about<br />
it. Roger Blandford [Tolman Professor of Theoretical Astrophysics 1989-2003] chaired the<br />
committee, and he did something he should never do. They gave the administration four choices.<br />
Even genies only give you three. He gave them four. They gave them my name—I’m not<br />
ordering these; I don’t know if there was an order; there probably wasn’t—Koonin’s name,<br />
David Goodstein’s name, and Charlie Peck’s name. [<strong>Thomas</strong> E.] Everhart [<strong>Caltech</strong> president<br />
1987-97] picked Charlie Peck. OK. It’s not exactly a ringing mandate. It didn’t make me mad;<br />
I didn’t really care. Made Koonin mad, I think. It was interesting. Not very long after, Koonin<br />
became provost, and that particular chemistry was interesting, not that Charlie had anything to do<br />
<strong>with</strong> it. But it didn’t make life easier for Charlie, I’m sure, having to deal <strong>with</strong> Koonin, because<br />
they were very different personalities. Anyway, the staffing committee continues to move, and<br />
things are happening that were totally unintended, but they are happening. We are building up<br />
fields that hadn’t been built up. People are becoming more collegial. The place is getting easier<br />
to run. Initiatives are being spawned by the staffing committee that then have to be accepted by<br />
the division chair.<br />
ASPATURIAN: Such as?<br />
TOMBRELLO: Prioritizing. The astronomers had been after an astrophysics building since 1966.<br />
At a faculty meeting after Peck was appointed, I said, “Look. We should have some priorities.<br />
Let’s make a list. Where is that building on the priority list?” And somebody said, “Not first.”<br />
“But what’s first?” “We need named postdocs, particularly in theory and math.” “OK. Hey,<br />
http://resolver.caltech.edu/<strong>Caltech</strong>OH:OH_<strong>Tombrello</strong>_T