Patrick D. Gallagher

Gallagher was born and raised in Albuquerque to Claire A. Gallagher (née Selter; born in Sunbury, PA to Agnes J. Selter (née Karb) and Adolf P. Selter) and John Gallagher (born in Ireland, having moved to Philadelphia at the age of 2).{{cite web |title=Patrick Gallagher's Pittsburgh Roots |url=http://www.news.pitt.edu/chancellorelect/pittsburgh |website=University of Pittsburgh |accessdate=December 14, 2017}} His father, worked at Sandia National Laboratories. During high school, the young Gallagher spent summers working on public health and sanitation projects in Mexico, Ecuador, and Honduras under sponsorship of Amigos de las Américas. He graduated from St. Pius High School.

Gallagher studied Physics and Philosophy at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. After graduating in 1985, he taught math and science for a year at Bishop LeBlond High School in St. Joseph, Missouri, where he also served as head coach for the cross-country track team. Returning to graduate school, he received his Ph.D. in physics at the University of Pittsburgh in 1991,{{cite thesis |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/303948875/ |title=The interaction of colloidal polystyrene latex spheres with a critical binary liquid mixture |date=1991 |publisher=University of Pittsburgh |type=Ph.D. |last=Gallagher |first=Patrick David |id={{ProQuest|303948875}} |url-access=subscription }} and did post-doctoral research at Boston University. He joined the NIST Center for Neutron Research as an instrumental scientist in 1993. His research interests have included neutron and X-ray instrumentation and studies of soft condensed matter systems such as liquids, polymers, and gels.AllGov, [http://www.allgov.com/officials/gallagher-patrick?officialid=29181 "Gallagher, Patrick"]

In 2000, Gallagher was selected as NIST agency representative at the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC). Then, starting in 2004, he served for four years as director of the NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR), a national user facility for neutron scattering on the NIST Gaithersburg campus. In 2008, he became deputy director of NIST.NIST, [https://www.nist.gov/director/bios/gallagher.cfm "Patrick D. Gallagher"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924063026/http://www.nist.gov/director/bios/gallagher.cfm |date=September 24, 2014 }}Political Appointee Project, [http://www.politicalappointeeproject.org/profile/patrick-d-gallagher "Director, NIST"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224092438/http://www.politicalappointeeproject.org/profile/patrick-d-gallagher |date=February 24, 2014 }}

Nominated by President Obama, Gallagher was confirmed as the 14th Director of NIST on November 5, 2009. He also served as Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology, a new position created in the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010, signed by President Obama on January 4, 2011.

Gallagher was the 18th Chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh, where he served from 2014 through 2023.{{Cite web |title=University of Pittsburgh Former Chancellor website. |url=https://www.former-chancellor-gallagher.pitt.edu/about-chancellor-gallagher |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=www.former-chancellor-gallagher.pitt.edu}}

Gallagher has been active in the area of U.S. policy for scientific user facilities and was chair of the Interagency Working Group on neutron and light source facilities under the Office of Science and Technology Policy. Currently, he serves as co-chair of the Standards Subcommittee under the White House National Science and Technology Council.

Gallagher and his wife, Karen Jane (Abrahamson) Gallagher, an occupational therapist, have three sons, Sean, Devin, and Ryan.[http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CHRG-111shrg55981/pdf/CHRG-111shrg55981.pdf "Hearing before the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate"] (October 15, 2009)

On June 23, 2023, the University of Pittsburgh announced that the plaza and walkway outside the 5th Avenue entrance of the William Pitt Union would be named in honor of Gallagher's service as chancellor of the university.{{cite news|url=https://www.utimes.pitt.edu/news/trustees-honor-gallagher|title=Trustees Honor Gallagher, Cudd at Their Last Meeting as Pitt's Leaders|date=June 26, 2023|first=Susan|last=Jones|newspaper=University Times|volume=55|issue=22|accessdate=October 1, 2024}}{{cite news|url=https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/walk-or-run-this-busy-spot-on-the-university-of-pittsburgh-campus-has-a-new-name/|title=Walk or run, this busy spot on Pitt campus has a new name|first=Bill|last=Schackner|newspaper=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review|date=June 23, 2023|accessdate=October 1, 2024}}

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• [http://www.chancellor.pitt.edu/ University of Pittsburgh Chancellor's Office], official page
• {{C-SPAN|69577}}

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{{s-ttl|order=18th|title=Chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh|years=2014 – 2023}}

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Category:1963 births

Category:American people of Irish descent

Category:People from Albuquerque, New Mexico

Category:21st-century American physicists

Category:Living people

Category:Benedictine College alumni

Category:University of Pittsburgh alumni

Category:Chancellors of the University of Pittsburgh

Category:Under Secretaries of Commerce for Standards and Technology