Quick Shot

Bill Krupke has been awarded the 2022 SPIE Maiman award, which recognizes individuals who have made sustained contributions to laser source science and technology at the highest level. Dr. Krupke has played a significant role nationally and internationally in laser science and technology throughout his career, starting in 1960 at the Hughes Aircraft Company (HAC) where he demonstrated the first laser at the laboratory. Bill went on to design and build one of the first ruby LIDAR systems at Honeywell, and then joined the Aerospace Corporation, which supported his doctoral degree work at UCLA.

Following a post-degree return to the HAC laser division, Krupke co-founded the laser program at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and led it as the Deputy Y-Division Leader, Chief Scientist, and Deputy Program Leader for nearly three decades. After retiring from LLNL, he formed the Applied Lasers/WFK Lasers LLC consultancy. Krupke also co-founded many successful startup companies including Crystal Photonics and NECSEL, and served on the boards of highly successful laser companies during their critical growth phases, notably IPG Photonics and Uniphase (now JDSU, an optical telecom equipment company).

In recent years, Bill has consulted closely with LLE on a range of laser technology topics starting with a novel concept for a high-energy gas laser, and now on materials for broadband laser-driven inertial confinement fusion/inertial fusion energy (ICF/IFE) systems.

See SPIE website for full story.