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Edward U. Condon (1902-1974), American physicist, noted for his work in quantum theory, nuclear reactions, and the spectra of atoms and molecules. He was born in Alamagordo, New Mexico, and educated at the University of California at Berkeley. From 1928 to 1937 he taught physics at Princeton University. He was one of the early supporters of the atomic bomb program. Between 1943 and 1945 he worked at the University of California on the electromagnetic separation of uranium-235. He became professor of physics and fellow of the Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics at the University of Colorado in 1963. Between 1966 and 1969 he was also a scientific director of the government-financed investigation of unidentified flying objects.