Oral history interview with Craig Robinson

Abstract

With support from the National Science Foundation (Grant No. 0811988, “Designing and Using FastLane: Distilling Lessons for Cyberinfrastructures”) CBI researchers Jeffrey Yost and Thomas Misa conducted oral history interviews with 70 NSF staff members as well as numerous additional interviews during 29 university site visits. An overview of the project is available at <www.cbi.umn.edu/oh/fastlane/> and a complete set of 643 publicly available interviews is at <dx.doi.org/10.13020/D6RG6B>. Here on the CBI oral history database is a selection of notable NSF staff including Joseph F. Burt, Jean Feldman, C. Suzanne Iacono, Constance McLindon, Carolyn L. Miller, Paul Morris, Andrea T. Norris, Erika Rissi, Craig Robinson, Mary F. Santonastasso, Rich Schneider, Frank P. Scioli, Beverly Sherman, George Strawn, and Frederic J. Wendling. Topics common to many of the interviews include the design and development of the NSF’s FastLane computer system, interactions with users, e-government initiatives, grants management practices, peer review, and NSF policies and practices. These interviews span a wide range of NSF staff, from program officers to senior managers.

Dr. Craig Robinson is acting director of the National Science Board Office. He previously served as a project leader and then branch chief for the NSF FastLane team. After providing brief background on his work in astrophysics prior to joining NSF, Robinson provides information on the development and management of NSF FastLane. Craig Robinson was the principal project manager during the launch of FastLane in 2000, contributing a research scientist’s perspective to the project and helping to create the internal system known as e-Jacket.