This transcript of a radio broadcast program, "Insight", contains a conversation between William Hines, a science editor of The Washington Star, and Dr. Joseph Coker, the Director of the National Resource Evaluation Center. Hines interviews Dr. Coker about how the National Resource Evaluation Center (NREC) uses data on personnel, ...
MoreThis transcript of a radio broadcast program, "Insight", contains a conversation between William Hines, a science editor of The Washington Star, and Dr. Joseph Coker, the Director of the National Resource Evaluation Center. Hines interviews Dr. Coker about how the National Resource Evaluation Center (NREC) uses data on personnel, national resources, materials, and more in order to create computer simulations of how a nuclear attack would affect U.S. infrastructure and resources. Dr. Joseph Daniel Coker (c.1912-1998) received both a doctorate in economics and a law degree from George Washington University. He served in the Navy during WWII on the U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey Ships' Bombardment section. Post-war, he went on to work for the State Department and Air Force, where he oversaw outside contract research. Coker was instrumental in the establishment of the National Resource Evaluation Center (NREC) and served as its director until his retirement in 1968. The NREC was part of the Office of Emergency Planning, and Coker was considered a leading official in the U.S. Atomic Preparedness programs. His work at the NREC included adapating computer technologies to calculate the effects of nuclear weapons against the United States. Dr. Coker died on Nov. 8, 1998 of stomach cancer.
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