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by Phillip Womble.
Dr. Phillip C. Womble was appointed the new Director of the Applied
Physics Institute at Western Kentucky University on July 1, 2002. He
replaces Dr. George Vourvopoulos, who retired in June and took a
position with Science Applications International Corporation.
Dr. Womble, a 1988 graduate of WKU, received his Masters and PhD
from Florida State Univ. He held a position as Senior Technical
Advisor at the Waste Examination and Assay Facility at Oak Ridge
National Laboratory and was a subject matter expert on Uranium and
non-destructive analysis at the Y-12 Plant in Oak Ridge. While at Oak
Ridge, he worked closely with the Applied Physics Institute at WKU and
its staff.
In 1997, Dr. Womble left Oak Ridge and became Senior Research
Scientist at WKUAPI. In 2000, he became an assistant professor in the
Dept of Physics and Astronomy.
WKUAPI is world-renown center on non-destructive analysis using
neutrons. It developed both an on-line coal analyzer and an explosives
detection device called PELAN. Dr. Womble was instrumental in the
success of both of these projects.
As director, Dr. Womble wants to expand WKUAPI's core expertise
from neutrons and nondestructive analysis. For example, a program to
sterilize small packages for pathogens is beginning at WKU.
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