Perspective from Princeton

1. Perspective from Princeton August 15, 2007 Stew Smith Dean for Research

2. Princeton’s Relationship to PPPL • For more than 50 years, Princeton has managed and operated what is now PPPL • Born as Project Matterhorn (Spitzer and Wheeler) under DOD • Controlled fusion part transferring to the AEC in the 1950’s. • From the beginning, PPPL has benefited from strong University connections in Physics, Astrophysical Sciences, and Engineering departments. • Large, outstanding Graduate Program in plasma physics. • Highly distinguished plasma-physics faculty. • PPPL has invented a series of successful experimental facilities, culminating in TFTR and NSTX. • The graduate Plasma Physics program has trained a good fraction of the leaders of the field. DOE-SC Review of the NCSX Project

3. Historical Princeton Oversight of PPPL • University has always provided strong administrative management. • However, till recently responsibility for science, technology, and project oversight was delegated to the PPPL Laboratory Director, with limited PU oversight. • Quarterly meetings with the provost • General oversight by the University Research Board, chaired in turn by H. D. Smyth, L. Spitzer, R. May, S. Treiman, W. Happer, and myself (6/05 – 12/06) – focued on policy issues. • High-level advice from PPPL International Advisory Committee • Increasing realization stronger oversight was needed, both for PPPL and for sponsored research in general. DOE-SC Review of the NCSX Project

4. Major Change in Management of Research • Creation of new Office of Dean for Research • Establish strong oversight and management of major laboratories and projects, especially PPPL. • Support interdisciplinary research centers. • Increase connections with, Corporations, Foundations, and Federal Agencies. • Approved by Trustees in November 2006 • Now building and integrating staff and functions • Full-fledged rollout in Sept 2007. DOE-SC Review of the NCSX Project

5. Some personal background • Experimental High Energy Physicist, Dept. Chair 90-98 • Leader of several major projects in HEP • Succeeded Jon Dorfan as BaBar Technical Coord. 1998-2000 • BaBar Muon Upgrade 2002-2006 • Spokesperson of several major experiments: • E-787 at Brookhaven 1983-1998 • BaBar at SLAC 2000-2002 • Current interesting assignment at CERN: • Head CMS referee for Director’s Large Hadron Collider Committee (LHCC) • If there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s that complex expensive projects require world-class: Science,ENGINEERING, and PROJECT MANAGEMENT DOE-SC Review of the NCSX Project

6. Improved PU Oversight of PPPL • PPPL Management Board in place: • Membership: President, Provost, Dean of the Faculty, Dean for Research, PPPL Director. • Reviews PPPL Director and Management • Responsible to DOE for PPPL. • Commissioned management review of PPPL by EG&G (Feb-March 2007). • Setting up PPPL Operations Oversight Board: • Membership: Univ experts in ESH, audit, legal, facilities, etc. External expert(s) in Project Management. • Chaired by Dean for Research • Reports to PPPL Management Board. • Commissions external reviews • Dean for Research doing this while Board is being formed DOE-SC Review of the NCSX Project

7. NCSX Status • NCSX has gone well technically, but: • The cost of the special components was greater than planned • Most seriously, recent cost and schedule estimates for the assembly of the device substantially exceed the baseline. • These are very serious issues and Princeton University has taken and is taking aggressive actions to improve the management of the NCSX Project. DOE-SC Review of the NCSX Project

8. Recent steps in NCSX oversight by PU • April 07 – Identification of cost issue by PPPL • May 07 – NCSX Engineering Workshop • Stellarator experts, experienced mechanical engineers, physicists, and PM consultants. • Validated technical approach • Recommended major changes in project management. • June 07 – NCSX Project Management Review • Experienced managers, engineers, costing experts. • Review of PM, cost, and schedule. • Output from Eng. Workshop was timely and germane. • Began implementation of recommendations immediately. DOE-SC Review of the NCSX Project

9. Increased NCSX Monitoring/Reporting • Frequent (at least weekly), issue-driven meetings of Dean for Researcwith PPPL and NCSX Management. • Princeton’s PPPL Operations Oversight Board will review formal monthly reports on NCSX from PPPL/NCSX Management. • cost and schedule performance, updated ETC • variance reports and action plans • milestone status • update of risk registry. • Dean for Research, PPPL Directors, NCSX Project Manager propose to meet monthly with Drs. Fonck & Lehman to report on progress, issues and plans. • University management to meet regularly with Drs. Orbach & Fonck. DOE-SC Review of the NCSX Project

10. PU Actions to support NCSX • Quickly recruited a strong Project Manager, Jim Anderson, for next 6-8 months. (Search underway for permanent NCSX PM). • Princeton High Energy Physics Group has detailed a senior mechanical engineer to PPPL and made 2 technicians available as needed. • Will continue to hold external NCSX reviews • Project management, costing and technical experts. • Twice per year for foreseeable future. • Next review in 4 months. • Lessons-learned review, targeted for September. • Systematic study by both external and internal participants, toward further improvements at all levels (University, Lab, Project) for NCSX and future projects. • Panel reports to me as chair of PPPL Operations Oversight Board. DOE-SC Review of the NCSX Project

11. Princeton is Committed to the Successof NCSX and PPPL • NCSX is a key element in the U.S. and world fusion program. • We are working hard to put NCSX back on track, and are undertaking key reforms to this end at PPPL and at the University. DOE-SC Review of the NCSX Project