Lenny Solomon

Project Manager Emeritus

 Lenny Solomon began working at Harvard University in 1968 at the Harvard College Observatory. He began his career designing solar physics experiments to fly aboard sounding rockets and earth-orbiting satellites. In 1978, he changed positions and transferred to the School of Engineering and Applied Science to manage Professor Jim Anderson's emerging research program. There, teams of scientists, engineers, and technicians measured the concentration of various free radicals that catalytically react to deplete ozone. In 1987, their chlorine monoxide instrument made the definitive measurement that linked increasing CFCs to decreasing ozone causing the Antarctic (Ozone Hole). Since that time the group has gotten increasingly involved in more generalized global warming issues.

During his career at Harvard he became involved in many other activities. In 1989 he became a Freshman Advisor and continued with that for 20 years. In 1983 he formed the Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences Safety Committee. In 1993, the committee was expanded to include the Physics Department, and in 2004, the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences.  He chaired this committee until he retired in December 2009.

In 1985 he formed Harvard University's ABCD Committee and chaired that until the end of 2009. This group of computer system managers, network managers, programmers, and end users now numbers over 1600 individuals at Harvard and its affiliated institutions.

Music has always played an important role in his life. His first paying gig was in 1969, and has been playing, singing, and writing songs ever since. He sings lead, plays guitar and harmonica, and writes all of the material for his band, curiously enough, called Solomon and regularly perform at venues in the Greater Boston area. Since 2002 he has released three albums and is working on a fourth. To date, music from these albums has been aired on over 120 public and college radio stations.

Although Solomon officially retired in 2009, he still can be seen in the lab on Tuesdays and Fridays.