Interview with Thomas A. Tombrello - Caltech Oral Histories

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