University Space Research Association
Dr. Frederick A. Tarantino
President and Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Frederick A. Tarantino holds a B.S. in Physics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, an M.S. in Nuclear Science from the Air Force Institute of Technology, and a Ph.D. in Nuclear Reactor Physics from MIT. He is also a graduate of the Wharton Business School s Advanced Management Program.
During his 19-year career with the U.S. Army, Dr. Tarantino served as U.S. chair of the joint U.S.-UK working group on space power, and led a mission to Russia to procure over 100 tons of advanced Soviet space hardware; then designed, built and operated a special test facility for it. He later was Defense Liaison in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, serving as Executive Assistant to the National Security Council Senior Director for Science and Technology. After this, he was appointed Chief, Air and Missile Defense Branch, in the Office of the Secretary of the Army.
Following his military career, Dr. Tarantino joined the Bechtel Corporation, where he rose to become President and General Manager of Bechtel Nevada Corporation, responsible for management and operations of the Nevada Test Site and associated operating locations. After eight years with Bechtel, Dr. Tarantino was appointed Principal Associate Director, Nuclear Weapons Program, at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, where he directed all aspects of a science-based weapons stewardship program.
Dr. Tarantino was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of USRA in 2006.