As a Distinguished Alumni, Dr. Robert W. Charles has used this motto as a goal in life. He has a series of accomplishments which have only lead to the future. Dr. Charles is the proud son of Robert J. and Phyllis V. Charles, Village of Bald Eagle and the loving husband of the former Lisa Decker. He and Lisa currently reside in Ranchester, WY.

Among the distinguished educational credits Dr. Charles has earned throughout his lifetime include: a Bachelor’s Degree in Physics from Bucknell University (cum laude), a Master’s Degree in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix, and a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Geology from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Dr. Charles has strong roots in the Tyrone Area. He has very fond of memories of his educational career which began at the Bald Eagle Elementary School, a one room school. He matriculated to the Oak Ridge Elementary School, and then to the Tyrone Area Junior Senior High School where he was an Honor Student. Dr. Charles refined his athletic skills in both track and basketball. At both Tyrone and Bucknell, he was captain of the track team. In recognition of his outstanding academic and athletic achievement he was awarded the G. C. (Bud) Wilson Scholar Athlete Award in the spring of 1963. His strong foundation of education begun in the Tyrone Area prepared him well for the future.

Dr. Charles had a strong commitment to Scouting where he was an Eagle Scout, Senior Patrol Leader and, later, Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 103. He served as the Camp Director at Camp Anderson in the late sixties.

While an undergraduate at Bucknell, Dr. Charles underwent training as a soldier. During that time he served as a reserve officer’s Training Corps Brigade Commander. He earned awards as a Distinguished Military Student as well as The United States Army Medal. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Army upon graduation. Other honors at Bucknell include Physics Honor Society, Mathematics Honor Society, election to the Society of Sigma Xi (Physics). and an academic scholarship.

At MIT, he was awarded a National Defense Education Act Traineeship, a pre-doctoral fellowship at the Carnegie Institute of Washington Geophysical Laboratory. He continued his avid interest in sports with selection to MIT’s rugby team, first side. Upon graduation he received a postdoctoral fellowship to the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

The major portion of Dr. Charles’ career evolved at The Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory. Established in 1943, the Los Alamos Laboratory stands as one of the Nation’s premier research institutes charged with the task of applying science and technology to the challenges of US National Security. During his twenty three years at Los Alamos, Dr. Charles served as a research scientist and in a variety of management positions. He is the author of over 100 technical publications.

Upon his retirement from Los Alamos in 1997, although far from retired, he and his wife acquired a small ranch in northern Wyoming where he pursues interests in consulting, ranching, traveling, model railroading, gardening, woodworking and entertaining grandchildren.