Candidates for Potomac Division Offices, 2002
Biography of Dr. William L. Bruckart, candidate for Vice-President of the Potomac Division of APS
William L. Bruckart is a Research Plant Pathologist at the ARS Foreign Disease-Weed Science Research Unit (FDWSRU), Fort Detrick, Maryland. Bill received his M. S. and Ph.D. degrees in Plant Pathology from Cornell University before joining the ARS Laboratory at Fort Detrick in 1981 to study foreign plant pathogens for use in biological control of imported weeds. Focus of his research is determination of the efficacy, safety, and risk of selected candidate plant pathogens for use against specific noxious weed species. Evaluations have led to successful release of a rust fungus on musk thistle and the near approval of a second pathogen on yellow starthistle. He is author of more than 40 peer reviewed publications including book chapters and release proposals. He has been a member of APS since 1971, serving on the Biological Control Committee and the Regulatory Plant Pathology Committee. He has chaired the Regional Research Project on Biological Control of Weeds (S-268) and is currently chair of the Biological Control Committee of the International Society of Plant Pathology. Dr. Bruckart has served on the Potomac Division Program Committee (1988), Resolutions Committee (1988 & 2001), and he was a candidate for Vice-President in 1993.
Biography of Dr. Samuel A. Alexander, candidate for Vice-President of the Potomac Division of APS>
Samual A. Alexander is an Associate Professor of Plant Pathology at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VPI), Department of Plant Pathology, Physiology and Weed Science, Eastern Shore Agricultural Research and Extension Center (AREC), Painter, VA. Sam received an M. S. in Botany and Plant Pathology from Louisiana Tech University in 1970 and a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from VPI in 1973. His responsibilities at VPI during his first 15 years was in forest pathology where his research focused on pathogen-host-insect interactions in forest trees and the development of disease predictive models and IPM strategies for disease control. In the fall of 1995 he transferred to the Eastern Shore AREC with responsibility for vegetable pathology. His current research seeks to integrate new chemical and biological management tools into strategies for greater safety and efficiency in vegetable disease management. Specifically Sam's research focuses on the study of plant activators and biopesticides and their integration with other strategies for managing bacterial diseases of tomato, the epidemiology and management of pepper anthracnose, and the use of new technologies for disease forecasting and management. His service to APS includes IPM Committee, 1999-2002; Chairman, 2001-2002, Vice-Chairman, 2000-200l; APS Representative to the National Committee on Worker Safety Standards, 1998-2001; Plant Disease Detection Committee, 1990-92; Forest Pathology Committee, 1980-83, 1987-90; Chairman 1983, Vice-Chairman, 1982; Potomac Division Graduate Student Committee, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1982; Potomac Division Program Committee, 1982, 1981; Potomac Division Auditing Committee, Chairman 1982, Vice-Chairman, 1981, and he was a candidate for Vice-President in 2001.