Albert "Al" Charmatz

Albert “Al” Charmatz died on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.

Throughout his life and career, Al demonstrated what it meant to confront misinformation, challenge false assumptions, and stand up to intimidation with truth. Intellectual courage can be rare in the worlds of science and public policy, where there is often time to consider—and worry about—the consequences of speaking out. Al was never afraid to defend what he believed was right, even when doing so risked inviting disagreement or hostility.

Al grew up in the Bronx in New York City as the son of Hungarian immigrants. He served in the United States Army before beginning a long and distinguished career at Los Alamos National Laboratory, where he contributed to the nation’s nuclear defense programs and ultimately retired as a Fellow of the Laboratory. Through his example, he taught his colleagues, mentees, and younger generations the importance of intellectual integrity and the courage to challenge falsehoods with evidence and truth.

Al began what he described as a lifelong “love affair with the national nuclear defense of America” through his service in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. In 1953, he graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. His master’s degree research involved reactor power plants of the U.S. Navy nuclear submarine fleet.

In September 1958, Al joined Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, where he initially worked on the Rover Program, a project aimed at developing nuclear thermal propulsion rockets for deep-space exploration, specifically targeted for a manned mission to Mars. Ten years later, he transferred to the nuclear weapons program. In 1973, he accepted a position in the Vulnerability and Lethality Group. From 1986 until his retirement in 2002, he contributed to the Laboratory’s international programs.

In 1995, Al was selected as a Laboratory Fellow. This recognition reflected the exceptional quality, significance, and lasting influence of his work.

Al was also a prolific writer and speaker. In addition to his many technical publications and lectures, he published stories in the popular periodical Analog Science Fiction and Fact: The stories humorously imagined what might have happened had Christopher Columbus functioned under modern government program-management rules.

In 1999, Al married his high school sweetheart, Joan Reagan-Charmatz, who survives him. They were married in New York and later renewed their vows in Los Alamos. Together, Al and Joan—each possessing remarkable strength, curiosity, and intelligence, formed a true intellectual partnership.

In accordance with Al’s wishes, no memorial service is planned. Al is survived by his wife, Joan; his daughters, Andrea and Claire; his son, Chris; and his granddaughters, Jessica and Tori.

He now belongs to the ages. May his memory be a blessing.