EMP Weapon Story

In 2005, I was working as a Consultant with Scientific Research Corp in Atlanta on multiple issues.  They asked me to look at the job postings they had difficulty filling. Two of these postings were for Engineers and the postings were on the normal posting boards as “Engineer 3”.  One posting mentioned High Power Microwave Test and the other mentioned High Power Laser Test.  I called the Program Office in Virginia and it was Rumsfeld’s Program office. I asked if this was for weapons systems and the answer was “yes”. I asked for more information and was sent the presentation material on these programs. 

These two jobs required the best qualified Scientists. They needed Oppenheimer level leaders, one in EMP and the other in Laser Weapons. They needed 2 Physics PhDs. Each would direct the work of 7 teams located at different universities. I rewrote the posting and put it on the “Physics Today” posting board. Within weeks we had sufficient qualified candidates to screen and we hired them.  Their job was to direct the design of the ground tests for these weapons systems.

I was amazed that these two projects were not classified, but were available to read about on internet websites.  A few years later, I read that these weapons had been successfully developed.  This meant that countermeasures could begin to be developed to protect the US against attacks by these weapons.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader