Charles Tahan, PhD

(updated February 2021)

EDUCATION

[2005] Ph.D., Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Thesis: Silicon in the Quantum Limit: Quantum Computing and Decoherence in Silicon Architectures
[2000] B.S., Physics and Computer Science with Highest Honors, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA
[1996] Gonzaga College High School, Washington, D.C.

ROLES

[06/20 - pres.] Assistant Director for Quantum Information Science, Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President, White House
[06/20 - pres.] Director, National Quantum Coordination Office
[06/20 - pres.] Chief, Quantum Information Science, LPS
[06/20 - pres.] Chief Scientist, LPS
[05/16 - 06/20] Technical Director, LPS
[07/15 – 05/16] Acting Technical Director, LPS
[08/13 – 06/20] Technical Lead and Supervisor, Solid State and Quantum Physics Division
[09/09 – 06/20] Physicist and Program Manager, Quantum Computing

Laboratory for Physical Sciences (LPS) (College Park, MD)
[10/08 – 09/09] Associate
[10/07 – 09/08] Senior Consultant

Booz | Allen | Hamilton, Inc. (Arlington, VA)

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA-MTO)

(Technical consultant to DARPA on quantum information science and technology programs in the Microsystems Technology Office.)
[09/05 – 10/07] National Science Foundation (NSF) Distinguished International Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge (UK)

University of Tokyo, Department of Physics and NTT (Japan)

University of Melbourne, Centre for Quantum Computer Technology and School of Physics (Australia)

HONORS

ODNI Science and Technology Fellow, 2017
Election to Senior Executive Service, 2016
Fellow of the American Physical Society, 2015
Member-At-Large, Topical Group on Quantum Information, American Physical Society, 2014 - 2016
Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), 2013
Researcher of the Year, 2012
Invention of the Year Finalist, Physical Sciences Category, University of Maryland Office of Technology Commercialization, 2011
Math and Physical Sciences Distinguished International Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, National Science Foundation (NSF), 2005
Nanotechnology Undergraduate Education (NUE) Teaching Fellowship in Nanotechnology and Society, National Science Foundation (NSF), 2004
R.G. Herb Distinguished Graduate Fellowship in Materials Physics, U. Wisconsin-Madison, 2001
Highest Honors, College of William & Mary, 2000
Westinghouse Science Talent Search semifinalist, 1996

SERVICE

Executive Secretary, Economic and Security Implications of Quantum Science (ESIX) Subcommittee, NSTC, Office of Science and Technology Policy
Executive Secretary, Subcommittee on Quantum Information Science, National Science and Technology Council, NSTC, Office of Science and Technology Policy
American Physical Society:Member-at-Large, Division of Quantum Information (2014-2016); Nominating Committee, Topical Group on Quantum Information (2011); Regular sorter and focus session organizer
Source Selection Committees for ARO, DARPA, DOE, NSF, AFOSR, IARPA, LPS
Workshops, etc, organizer: Quantum Characterization Verification & Validation (Bethesda, MD 2012); New and Emerging Qubit Science and Technology (College Park, MD 2018); Opto and Nanomechanics
Creation of multiple quantum information science and technology programs including, e.g., DARPA’s Quantum Entanglement Science and Technology (QuEST) program, the ARO/LPS Quantum Computing BAA’s of 2010 and 2012, the ARO/LPS Quantum Characterization, Verification, and Validation (QCVV) program of 2013, the ARO/LPS New and Emerging Qubit Science and Technology (NEQST) program
Advisory Boards/Panel Member: National Academy of Sciences, Sandia, Lincoln Labs, Liaison to Joint Quantum Institute

CV