The condensed-matter physicist pioneered the study of superconductivity, applications of superconducting devices, and spintronics.

Stuart A. Wolf. a pioneer in superconductivity and a visionary in spintronics, passed away on 16 April 2026.  He is survived by his daughters Lisa
Krieger and Dori Kimchy; sons-in-Law Dan Krieger and Mosha Kimchy; and grandchildren Evan, Kyle, and Alex Krieger and Romi and Maya Kimchy. 

Stu earned his AB from Columbia College in 1964, followed by an MS and PhD in physics from Rutgers University in 1966 and 1969, respectively. His
early career included roles as a Research Associate at Case Western Reserve University. 

Dr. Stu Wolf arrived at NRL in 1971 to work on the development of Naval applications of Josephson Junction technology.  He was instrumental in
fielding prototype SQUID systems for both underwater signal detection and magnetic anomaly search. On a more basic level, Dr. Wolf and colleagues
began studying the evolution a superconducting ultra-thin films as they approached the limit of superconducting behavior.  When high temperature
superconductivity was discovered, Dr. Wolf led a multi-pronged effort to i) study the magnetic field behavior of these new materials, ii) develop a
theoretical framework to understand their superconducting properties, and iii) helping to manage a large NRL led space program to launch superconducting devices into space.  During Dr. Wolf’s NRL career, he was head of a large branch studying both superconducting and magnetic materials.  In 1984, he was elected to Fellow of American Physical Society for “For substantial contributions to the basic understanding of superconductivity, and to applications of superconducting materials.” He received several accolades, including a Meritorious Civilian Service Award from the U.S. Navy in 1984, the Sigma Xi Pure Science Award from NRL in 1991, and the E.O. Hulbert Award, the highest research award by NRL in 1995. 

In 1995, Stu joined DSO in DARPA, where he developed and managed high portfolio programs in nanoelectronics and quantum technologies. He coined "spintronics" that is now an active area of research and development. During his 12 years at DARPA, he managed expansive programs that bridged the gaps between industrial, academic, and government research. 

In 2003, Stu joined at the University of Virginia (UVA) and later became a professor of Departments of Physics, and Materials Science and
Engineering . At UVA, he became a driving force behind several science initiatives and was instrumental in establishing the NanoSTAR center and
the Virginia Nanoelectronics Center. His group made seminal contributions in dilute magnetic semiconductors, multiferroic materials and strongly
correlated oxides, and collaborated broadly with industry, national laboratories and academia. 

After Stu retired from UVA, he remained engaged with science and science policy as a consultant at Institute of Defense Analyses. He has authored
several IDA reports on various programs and initiatives for Office of Under Secretary of Defense (Research and Engineering) Basic Research Office. He also consulted for Intellectual Ventures.

Contributors:

Lisa Krieger, Don Gubser, and Jiwei Liu