Kevin Greenaugh facts for kids

Kevin Greenaugh (May 15, 1956 – December 17, 2023) was an American nuclear engineer and senior manager at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) in Washington, DC, United States.

Early life and education

Greenaugh was born in the United Kingdom and raised as a U.S. military dependent. His career has been deeply rooted in both the military and commercial energy industry. His journey began in Berlin during the Cold War, later moving to Augusta, Georgia, where he and his family encountered the challenges of segregation.

Greenaugh attended school in Berlin and later became the first African American to earn a doctorate in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Maryland. University of Maryland. His academic journey included a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Mercer University, a master's in nuclear engineering from the University of New Mexico, a master's in public policy from the University of New Mexico, post-Masters studies at the University of Arizona, and an engineering certificate in technology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Career

Greenaugh held pivotal roles in the Senior Executive Service and served as the Assistant Deputy Administrator for Strategic Partnership Programs of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Notably, he was the senior advisor for Policy to the Administrator of NNSA.

Active in the realm of policy and national security, Greenaugh participated in Congressional hearings, providing briefings to members of the House and Senate. His expertise led him to testify at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing and brief the Senate Armed Services Committee on the science and systems of the nuclear deterrent.

One of Greenaugh's significant contributions involved managing a program focused on defending the planet from potential collisions with near-earth-objects. His research in this area resulted in technical papers published in reputable outlets like Physics Today and the New York Times. Furthermore, NASA benefited from his work, with two technical reports, "Studies of Short Time Response Options for Potentially Hazardous Objects"and "Multi-Organization – Multi-Discipline Effort Developing a Mitigation Concept for Planetary Defense." With over 35 years of experience, Greenaugh left an indelible mark on the nuclear enterprise and energy industry. His tenure at MITRE Corporation and Los Alamos National Laboratory showcased his prowess in handling national energy issues and contributing to research on energy and nuclear non-proliferation.

Greenaugh was an adjunct professor at Howard University for over twenty-five years, where he imparted knowledge in the School of Engineering. where he taught courses in the School of Engineering. He also shared his expertise at the US Air Force Academy.

Awards

In 2006, he was awarded the Black Engineer of the Year award for achievement in government, by Career Communications and cited at the A. James Clark School of Engineering, University of Maryland. He also received the Centennial Award for Science from the Omega Psi Phi fraternity in 2011, the National Trail Blazer Award in Science and proclamations from multiple cities.