Undergraduate at Harvard University, Edward Purcell as influential teacher; graduate work at California Insitute of Technology, Ph.D. in 1964; move to Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, 1966. Most of interview concerns JASON: joined in 1966 at invitation of Murray Gell-Mann; projects for the Navy; work with Walter Munk; member of Steering Committee for four years; selection and types of projects; relationship with contractors.