Bob is originally from Rochester, New York, an upstate city on the shores of Lake Ontario. He attended Alfred University, a small liberal arts institution where he received two degrees in three years: a Bachelor of Arts in Physics and a Bachelor of Science in Ceramic Science (Materials Science). He continued to graduate school where he earned a Ph.D. in Solid State Physics/Materials Science from Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) studying atomic-level defects and defect aggregates in solids at both CWRU and at Los Alamos National Laboratory. He was awarded a University Post-doctoral Fellowship at Oxford where he continued fundamental studies into the nature of defects in solids and subsequently pursued a research career in the private sector.

He has worked primarily in the area of the development of new materials for demanding applications and has written over 25 journal articles, delivered more than 100 lectures, and has 13 patents based upon his scientific work. A central part of his activities includes a focus on critical thinking, problem solving, and helping others enhance their critical thinking skills via lectures and development of course materials.

He is an expert in many aspects of solid state physics and materials science including defect physics, thermodynamics, mechanics of solids, thermo-mechanics, electron microscopy, micro-mechanical measurements, microelectronic packaging, and materials for implantable medical devices. Other areas of expertise include applied statistics, ultra-high reliability theory, vector calculus, and the visual display of quantitative information.

Bob is now retired having worked in corporate research and development, competitive technology assessment, technical business development, ultra-high reliability materials and systems, and internal technical consulting for over 25 years in international corporations.

Throughout his life Bob has been a competitive athlete in Tennis, Cycling, Mountain Biking, and Cross Country Skiing. While in graduate school he was a ranked cyclist and met his wife, Betsy, also a ranked cyclist at the time. They have now been married for 26 years.  Betsy is a curriculum writer, retired teacher and 2 time member of the US Olympic Cross Country Ski Team (1988 and 1992).

Bob and Betsy settled in Sun Valley specifically because of the unique combination of outdoor activities, high quality infrastructure, trail access, proximity to wilderness, cultural events, efficient government, and small town atmosphere. These are all aspects of Sun Valley that Bob is committed to maintaining and enhancing and they are his primary focus as a councilperson.