William Arthur Herman

Bill was born in Washington, DC. His parents were Alma Wattwood Herman and Jack Herman. Bill attended the Congressional School in Virginia and graduated from George Washington University with a degree in Electrical Engineering in 1968. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as an officer in the Public Health Service and served in Mississippi and Alabama. In 1970, Bill joined the FDA, starting in the Electromagnetics Branch and moving up to the Division of Electronic Products front office as an Associate Director. He was part of the nascent program developing electromagnetic measurement technology in support of the Agency’s new responsibility for radiation emissions from electronic products; the existing technology having been developed for telecommunication and other purposes. In 1979, he was selected for a management role in the Agency’s efforts to measure non-ionizing radiation. The FDA’s Bureau of Radiological Health and Bureau of Medical Devices merged in 1984 to form the Center for Devices and Radiological Health. Bill became Director of the Division of Physical Sciences, where he managed scientific and engineering programs, including medical devices and pre-market review. In this position, he aspired to expand the CDRH’s mission from radiation research to medical device regulation. An FDA-wide science review concluded that CDRH had the best mission-driven laboratories within the FDA. To encourage the Center to stay ahead of the technological curve, Bill initiated the study of future trends. The study's results were published in an FDA report in 2011. In 2002, Bill was promoted to Deputy Director of the Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories. He retired from the FDA in 2010.

Bill had many interests, including sailing, diving in Hawaii, dining out with friends (one of whom was a restaurant reviewer), reading philosophy and religion, attending plays at the Lansburgh Shakespeare Theatre (especially those with Floyd King), and watching the 100 best films. For several years, Bill facilitated a spirituality book group at Politics & Prose. He was also a member of the Cosmos Club and enjoyed its lectures and other activities.

Bill had many loved ones: his cherished daughter, Miriam; his wife, Helen; his beloved dog, Clementine; and his cats, Fatty and Sam. He is survived by his wife and daughter.