The State - News from Dec. 9, 1987

Physicist Roy Woodruff, who was demoted in a 1985 dispute over the Strategic Defense Initiative program at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, has been given a new position. He was appointed to head the lab’s treaty verification program, a position that has taken on increased significance in light of the Reagan-Gorbachev summit agreement. Woodruff said he is happy to be replacing Milo Nordyke, who asked for another assignment after 11 years on the job. “It’s a good move for everybody,” he said. “It’s a plain, neat job. I know the people there, and they’re first-rate. . . . Verification is going to be an important part of it (the treaty).” Woodruff also said he is still disappointed with colleague Edward Teller, who Woodruff said was guilty of “overselling” the program, sometimes called “Star Wars,”