The Fermi Research Alliance, LLC, Board of Directors announced Wednesday the reappointment of Piermaria Oddone to a second five-year term as director of Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory.
Robert J. Zimmer, President of the University of Chicago and chair of the Fermi Research Alliance, LLC board, announced the appointment, which has been approved by the U.S. Department of Energy. Fermi Research Alliance, LLC, formed in 2006, is a partnership with the University of Chicago and the Universities Research Association, which together manage Fermilab under a contract with the DOE.
The appointment was made with unanimous support of the Fermilab board, which voted to reappoint Oddone at its February 2010 meeting, following recommendations made by an ad hoc reappointment committee chaired by Neal Lane, member of the FRA Board of Directors and the Malcolm Gillis University Professor at Rice University.
"Pier has guided the laboratory with care and insight during his first term," said Zimmer. "His leadership and strategic vision are important for the future of Fermilab."
Oddone's second term commenced June 1, 2010.
During Oddone's tenure at Fermilab, the laboratory has pursued scientific programs in energy, intensity and cosmic frontiers of particle physics. The Tevatron, the most powerful proton-antiproton accelerator in the world, has consistently set new performance records for luminosity at the energy frontier. In addition, experiments conducted there have resulted in hundreds of published papers that expand understanding of fundamental physics. The laboratory also has developed world-leading programs in neutrino physics and particle astrophysics.
"Pier enjoys considerable respect within the international particle physics community," said Lane. "He and his leadership team have done a superb job building a strong and coherent plan for the future which is broad, scientifically compelling and reasonably matched to available resources."
Under Oddone's leadership, Fermilab has pursued a policy of active involvement with local citizens, largely through science education programs. Most recently, the Fermilab Community Advisory Board convened in 2009 to advise the laboratory on issues involving the laboratory and the community. He has given particular emphasis to achieving enhanced diversity among laboratory employees.
"Pier has demonstrated, time and again, his resilience, resourcefulness and leadership," said Zimmer. "I am pleased we will be continuing this partnership."
-Lisa LaVallee
—Prof. Kunle Odunsi
