Craig Kletzing: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|American plasma physicist (1958–2023)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox scientist

| name = Craig Kletzing

| image = Craig Kletzing prof.jpg

| caption =

| birth_name = Craig Allen Kletzing

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1958|2|3}}

| birth_place = [[Sacramento, California]]

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2023|8|10|1958|2|3}}

| death_place =

| children =

| spouse = Jeanette Welch

| citizenship =

| fields = [[Plasma physics]], [[Space physics]]

| workplaces =

| education = [[University of California, Berkeley]] (B.A.) <br/> [[University of California, San Diego]] (M.S., Ph.D.)

| doctoral_advisor =

| thesis_title = Auroral electron time dispersion

| thesis_url = https://www.proquest.com/docview/303673120

| thesis_year = 1989

| academic_advisors = [[Carl E. McIlwain]] <br/> [[Roy B. Torbert]]

| influenced =

| known_for = NASA [[Van Allen Probes]] mission (EMFISIS) <br/> NASA [[Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites|TRACERS]] mission

| awards = Fellow of the [[American Physical Society]] (2022)

| signature =

| influences =

}}

'''Craig Allen Kletzing''' (February 3, 1958 – August 10, 2023) was an American plasma physicist and professor at the [[University of Iowa]], known for his work in space [[Plasma (physics)|plasmas]] and laboratory plasmas. He conducted pioneering work in kinetic [[Alfvén wave]]s,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kletzing |first1=C. A. |title=Electron acceleration by kinetic Alfvén waves |journal=Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics |date=June 1994 |volume=99 |issue=A6 |pages=11095–11103 |doi=10.1029/94JA00345}}</ref> developed instruments for various [[NASA]] missions, and taught college level physics.

Kletzing was a principal investigator of the Electric and Magnetic Field Instrument Suite and Integrated Science (EMFISIS)<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Kletzing |first1=C. A. |last2=Kurth |first2=W. S. |last3=Acuna |first3=M. |last4=MacDowall |first4=R. J. |last5=Torbert |first5=R. B. |last6=Averkamp |first6=T. |last7=Bodet |first7=D. |last8=Bounds |first8=S. R. |last9=Chutter |first9=M. |last10=Connerney |first10=J. |last11=Crawford |first11=D. |last12=Dolan |first12=J. S. |last13=Dvorsky |first13=R. |last14=Hospodarsky |first14=G. B. |last15=Howard |first15=J. |date=1 November 2013 |title=The Electric and Magnetic Field Instrument Suite and Integrated Science (EMFISIS) on RBSP |journal=Space Science Reviews |language=en |volume=179 |issue=1 |pages=127–181 |doi=10.1007/s11214-013-9993-6 |issn=1572-9672|doi-access=free }}</ref> unit aboard NASA's [[Van Allen Probes]], and a co-investigator of the electric and magnetic Fields Suite aboard NASA's [[Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Torbert |first1=R. B. |last2=Russell |first2=C. T. |last3=Magnes |first3=W. |last4=Ergun |first4=R. E. |last5=Lindqvist |first5=P.-A. |last6=LeContel |first6=O. |last7=Vaith |first7=H. |last8=Macri |first8=J. |last9=Myers |first9=S. |last10=Rau |first10=D. |last11=Needell |first11=J. |last12=King |first12=B. |last13=Granoff |first13=M. |last14=Chutter |first14=M. |last15=Dors |first15=I. |date=1 March 2016 |title=The FIELDS Instrument Suite on MMS: Scientific Objectives, Measurements, and Data Products |journal=Space Science Reviews |language=en |volume=199 |issue=1 |pages=105–135 |doi=10.1007/s11214-014-0109-8 |issn=1572-9672|doi-access=free }}</ref> In 2019, NASA selected to fund Kletzing's [[Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites|Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites (TRACERS)]] mission proposal as part of the agency's [[Explorers Program|Small Explorer Program]].

==Early life and education==

Kletzing was born in Sacramento, California in 1958.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Craig Kletzing Obituary |url=https://www.lensingfuneral.com/obituaries/Craig-A-Kletzing?obId=28688482}}</ref>

He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in physics at the [[University of California, Berkeley]] in 1981. Subsequently in 1983, he earned his Master's degree in physics, and in 1989, he received his Ph.D. degree in physics, both from the [[University of California, San Diego]]. His Ph.D. thesis, titled "Auroral electron time dispersion", examined precipitating electron data in the Earth's [[ionosphere]] using a [[sounding rocket]] mission.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Kletzing |first=Craig A. |title=Auroral electron time dispersion |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/303673120|id={{ProQuest|303673120}} }}</ref>

==Career==

After receiving his Ph.D., Kletzing briefly worked as a research assistant professor at the [[University of Alabama in Huntsville]] before relocating in the same year to an assistant research-track professor position at the [[University of New Hampshire]] (UNH) in 1989. In 1995, he was promoted to the position of Associate Research Professor. During his time at UNH, he held a Visiting Scientist appointment at the [[Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics|Max-Planck-Institut fuer extraterrestrische Physik]] from 1993 to 1994. In 1996, he joined the [[University of Iowa]] as a tenure-track associate professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy, and was subsequently promoted to full professor in 2005. From 2011 to 2019, he held the title of F. Wendell Miller Distinguished Professor.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Craig Kletzing , Principal Investigator |url=https://tracers.physics.uiowa.edu/people/craig-kletzing}}</ref> In 2019, he was named the Donald A. and Marie B. Gurnett Chair,<ref name=":2" /> an honor he retained until his death.

Kletzing's research focused on space [[Plasma (physics)|plasmas]] (a rarefied form of ionized gas that makes up a majority of the matter in the universe), the physics of [[Aurora|auroras]] or Northern/Southern lights, and the dynamics of the [[Van Allen radiation belt|Van Allen radiation belts]] surrounding Earth.<ref name=":3" /> While at the University of Iowa, he was a Co-Investigator and led hardware contributions on NASA's [[Van Allen Probes]] and [[Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission|Magnetospheric Multiscale]] satellite missions.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |title=UI scientists carry on legacy of space pioneer James Van Allen |work=The Gazette |url=https://www.thegazette.com/news/ui-scientists-carry-on-legacy-of-space-pioneer-james-van-allen/}}</ref> Kletzing also led multiple NASA sounding rocket missions. In total, he was involved in over 30 space missions throughout his career<ref name=":3" /> and authored or co-authored over 300 publications.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Web of Science, Craig Kletzing |url=https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/16061422}}</ref> His instrument specialty was measuring magnetic and electric fields and waves in space above active aurora and within the radiation belts.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":5" />

From 2001 to 2006, Kletzing served as the Associate Chair for the Department of Physics & Astronomy at the University of Iowa.<ref name=":6" /> He also served on multiple committees, review panels, and organizing bodies within the [[heliophysics]] community.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Craig Kletzing, Experimental Space Physicist |url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-kletzing-163610b/}}</ref>

Kletzing had a strong passion for teaching<ref>{{Cite web |title=A researcher, a teacher, a leader |url=https://stories.uiowa.edu/kletzing-researcher-teacher-leader}}</ref> and public outreach, which was exemplified by his many media interviews, including the high-profile [[Science Friday]] show on National Public Radio.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spacecraft Records 'Chorus' of Space Sounds |url=https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/spacecraft-records-chorus-of-space-sounds/)}}</ref>

In 2019, Kletzing secured the single largest research grant in University of Iowa's history,<ref>{{Cite news |title=UI wins its largest-ever research award |work=Iowa Now |url=https://now.uiowa.edu/news/2019/06/ui-wins-its-largest-ever-research-award}}</ref> a $115 million award from NASA to lead the [[Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites|TRACERS spacecraft mission]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Space's Storm Chasers: Inside Iowa's Latest NASA Mission |work=Iowa Magazine |url=https://magazine.foriowa.org/story.php?ed=true&storyid=1937}}</ref> Scheduled for launch in 2024,<ref>{{Cite web |title=TRACERS (Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites) |url=https://www.eoportal.org/satellite-missions/tracers}}</ref> TRACERS will study how the [[solar wind]] and Earth's magnetic fields interact in a particular spot called the cusp region, dynamically driven by a process called [[magnetic reconnection]].

==Personal life ==

Kletzing was married to Jeanette Welch,<ref name=":3" /> whom he met in California. Together, they played in many Iowa City bands throughout his life including Hold My Llama, Bipolar, Brace for Blast,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brace for Blast on Bandcamp |url=https://braceforblast.bandcamp.com/album/greatest-hits}}</ref> House of Escher, Truffle Pig<ref>{{Cite web |title=Truffle Pig on Facebook |website=[[Facebook]] |url=https://www.facebook.com/trufflepigic/}}</ref> and, most recently, Fork in the Road.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fork in the Road on Facebook |website=[[Facebook]] |url=https://www.facebook.com/ClassicBluesCoverBand}}</ref>

Kletzing died on August 10, 2023, at the age of 65.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |title=Renowned Iowa physics professor, researcher Craig Kletzing dies |work=Iowa Now |url=https://now.uiowa.edu/news/2023/08/renowned-iowa-physics-professor-researcher-craig-kletzing-dies}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Esteemed Iowa, NASA physicist Craig Kletzing dies |work=The Gazette |url=https://www.thegazette.com/higher-education/esteemed-iowa-nasa-physicist-craig-kletzing-dies/}}</ref>

==Awards and honors==

In 2006, Kletzing was awarded the University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Teaching Award<ref>{{Cite web |title=College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University Teaching Awards |date=September 8, 2011 |url=https://clas.uiowa.edu/faculty/university-teaching-awards}}</ref> and in 2007 he won the President and Provost Award for Teaching Excellence.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=President & Provost Award for Teaching Excellence, 2007 |date=September 8, 2011 |url=https://clas.uiowa.edu/faculty/president-provost-award-teaching-excellence-2007}}</ref> In 2008, the university honored him with the Regent's Award for Faculty Excellence.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Regents Award for Faculty Excellence — CLAS Recipients |date=September 23, 2011 |url=https://clas.uiowa.edu/faculty/regents-award-faculty-excellence-clas-recipients}}</ref>

From 2011 to 2019, Kletzing held the title of F. Wendell Miller Distinguished Professor,<ref name=":1" /> and in 2019 was named as the Donald A. and Marie B. Gurnett Chair.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=University of Iowa names Craig Kletzing as inaugural holder of the Donald A. and Marie B. Gurnett Chair |date=June 24, 2019 |url=https://clas.uiowa.edu/news/university-iowa-names-craig-kletzing-inaugural-holder-donald-and-marie-b-gurnett-chair}}</ref> In 2022, he delivered the 39th Annual Presidential Lecture at the University of Iowa.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=University of Iowa Presidential Lecture |url=https://president.uiowa.edu/about-president/presidential-lecture}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=39th Annual Presidential Lecture - February 27, 2022 | website=[[YouTube]] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm2hjaoaQ9Y}}</ref>

In 2016, Kletzing was invited as a Distinguished Lecturer in the American Physical Society Division of Plasma Physics<ref>{{Cite web |title=APS DPP Distinguished Lecturers |url=https://engage.aps.org/dpp/programs/distinguished-lecturer}}</ref> and in 2022, Kletzing was named as a Fellow of the [[American Physical Society]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kletzing Named APS Fellow |url=https://physics.uiowa.edu/news/2022/10/kletzing-named-aps-fellow}}</ref>

==References==

{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

* {{Official website|https://delta.physics.uiowa.edu/~cak/index.html}}

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[[Category:1958 births]]

[[Category:2023 deaths]]

[[Category:20th-century American physicists]]

[[Category:People from Sacramento, California]]

[[Category:University of Iowa faculty]]

[[Category:American plasma physicists]]

[[Category:Scientists from Iowa]]

[[Category:NASA people]]

[[Category:Fellows of the American Physical Society]]