Stewart Nozette

Stewart Nozette
Born
Stewart David Nozette

(1957-05-20) May 20, 1957 (age 67)
NationalityAmerican
Alma materUniversity of Arizona
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Known forAttempting to transfer American nuclear and space technology to Israel
AwardsNASA Exceptional Achievement Medal
Scientific career
FieldsGeoscience
Planetary Science
InstitutionsScripps Institution of Oceanography
University of Texas
Ballistic Missile Defense Organization
United States Department of Energy Lawrence Livermore Laboratory (1990–1999)
United States Department of Defense
National Space Council (1989–1990)
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Alliance for Competitive Technology (1990–present)
DARPA
ThesisThe Physical and Chemical Properties of the Surface of Venus (1983)
Doctoral advisorJohn S. Lewis
Gordon Pettengill

Stewart David Nozette (born May 20, 1957) is an American planetary scientist, technologist, and consultant who worked for the United States Department of Energy, the United States Department of Defense, DARPA, the United States Naval Research Laboratory, and NASA.[1] He is also a convicted felon for attempted espionage and fraud against the United States. The FBI arrested him on October 19, 2009,[2] charging him with attempted espionage after a sting operation[3] which Nozette's lawyer claims amounted to entrapment.[4] At trial, Nozette admitted attempting to sell U.S. classified information to someone he believed was an Israeli Mossad operative, but was in reality an undercover Federal Bureau of Investigation employee. He pleaded guilty to one charge of attempted espionage and was sentenced, under the terms of a plea bargain, to thirteen years in prison. After serving time[5] at the Federal Correctional Institution, Terre Haute, Nozette was released on November 13, 2020.

  1. ^ Agence France-Presse (2009).
  2. ^ New York Times, The Scientist Who Mistook Himself for a Spy Archived 2012-05-10 at the Wayback Machine, Oct 21 2009; also New York Times, Spying Charges Against Scientist Archived 2018-07-02 at the Wayback Machine, October 20, 2009, page A19
  3. ^ Martell (2009).
  4. ^ Washington Post, Maryland scientist Stewart Nozette sentenced for passing secrets to supposed Mossad agent, expresses regret, Mar 12 2012
  5. ^ US scientist Stewart Nozette admits Israel spy charge Archived 2018-07-18 at the Wayback Machine BBC News. 7 September 2011