In June 1982, a pivotal moment occurred when Bob Lazar met Edward Teller, often called the father of the hydrogen bomb. Their initial encounter happened outside a lecture hall at Los Alamos, where Teller was reading a newspaper featuring Lazar's jet car project. This chance meeting would later prove significant to Lazar's professional trajectory. After moving to Las Vegas some time later, Lazar found himself missing the scientific field and began submitting his resume to various organizations, including EG&G, a contractor for the Nevada Test Site.

Following his application to EG&G, Lazar received an invitation for an interview, apparently recommended by Dr. Teller himself. The interview process was unusually intense, lasting about an hour and a half with a board of people. Interestingly, many questions focused on his demeanor and stress responses rather than just technical abilities. Days later, Lazar received a call informing him he was overqualified for the original position, but there was another opportunity at a remote test site location that required air transportation. The security measures surrounding this position were described as "more than oppressive," going far beyond standard procedures.

Key Takeaways

A chance meeting with Edward Teller in 1982 created an unexpected connection that later influenced Lazar's career path.
The interview process at EG&G was unusually focused on personality and behavior under stress rather than just technical qualifications.
The security measures for the remote position were exceptionally stringent, suggesting work of a highly classified nature.

Interest in Area 51's Secret Facilities

Meeting with Dr. Edward Teller

Bob Lazar's connection to Area 51 began unexpectedly on June 8, 1982. That day, the Los Alamos Monitor newspaper featured a front-page photo of Lazar with his jet car. On the reverse side was an announcement about Dr. Edward Teller, known as the father of the hydrogen bomb, who would be giving a lecture at one of the laboratory halls.

Eager to hear the lecture, Lazar arrived very early expecting a crowd. Finding the place empty, he noticed Dr. Teller sitting alone outside, reading the newspaper that featured Lazar's photo. This presented the perfect opportunity for an introduction.

Their conversation led to a delayed lecture start, allowing them to walk and talk for some time. Lazar found Teller to be quite stubborn—a trait he later recognized as common among established scientists. In his experience, many veteran physicists and scientists tend to be closed-minded toward new ideas despite their field requiring open-minded exploration.

Career Transition and First Interview

After leaving Los Alamos, Lazar moved to Las Vegas where he eventually missed working in mainstream science. He began sending resumes to various organizations within driving distance, including EG&G—a contractor for the Nevada Test Site known for developing high-speed photography technology for atomic tests.

Lazar also sent his resume to Dr. Teller, who was at Livermore at that time, referencing their previous meeting. Shortly afterward, he received a call from EG&G Special Projects, then located at McCarran Airport, inviting him for an interview.

The interview process was unusually intense:

It lasted approximately 90 minutes
Featured a panel of interviewers
Focused less on technical abilities and more on Lazar's temperament
Included questions about how he handled stress and if he became angry easily

Days after this somewhat disappointing interview, EG&G called back with unexpected news. They considered him overqualified for the original position but mentioned another opportunity at a remote site on the test range that would require daily flights from Las Vegas—the beginning of his involvement with the highly classified facilities.

Professional Career Path Toward Restricted Facilities

Moving From Scientific Research to Nevada

After working at Los Alamos National Laboratory, Bob Lazar decided to relocate to Las Vegas, Nevada. This move marked a significant shift in his professional trajectory. During his time in Las Vegas, he became involved in various business ventures, but eventually found himself missing the scientific field. The intellectual challenge and cutting-edge research he had previously experienced left a void that his current work couldn't fill.

His background at Los Alamos had exposed him to advanced scientific concepts and technologies. This experience had shaped his professional identity and interests. The transition to Nevada initially represented a departure from this scientific community, but would ultimately lead to unexpected opportunities.

Job Applications and Unexpected Opportunities

Feeling the pull back toward scientific work, Lazar began distributing his resume to various employers within driving distance of Las Vegas. Among these was EG&G, a well-known defense contractor with operations at McCarran Airport. EG&G had established its reputation through pioneering work in high-speed photography for atomic test documentation, developing cameras capable of capturing over one million frames per second.

In addition to local employers, Lazar sent his resume to Dr. Edward Teller at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. This connection stemmed from a previous meeting:

Initial Meeting with Dr. Teller:

Occurred on June 8, 1982
Lazar had been featured on the front page of the Los Alamos Monitor newspaper
Teller was reading this newspaper before giving a lecture
They had a personal conversation before Teller's presentation

Shortly after sending his resume, Lazar received a call from EG&G Special Projects, apparently at Dr. Teller's recommendation. The interview process was notably different from standard technical assessments:

Format
- Board interview with multiple people
Duration
- Approximately 1.5 hours
Focus
- Personal demeanor rather than technical skills
Unusual questions
- How he handled stress, whether he became angry easily
Security emphasis
- Later revealed as a primary concern

After this interview, Lazar returned home feeling uncertain about the opportunity. However, days later, EG&G called back with unexpected news. They considered him overqualified for the original position but offered something different—a role at a remote site on the Nevada Test Site that would require daily flights from Las Vegas.

The position came with stringent security requirements, far beyond standard confidentiality agreements. While initially surprising, Lazar viewed these extensive security measures as an indication he would be working on something extraordinarily interesting and advanced.

Applying to Work at EG&G

First Contact and Job Interview

Robert Lazar's journey with EG&G began unexpectedly through a chance meeting with Dr. Edward Teller, often called the father of the hydrogen bomb. After seeing Teller reading a newspaper featuring Lazar's jet car project, Lazar introduced himself, leading to a brief conversation. Years later, after relocating to Las Vegas and missing scientific work, Lazar sent his resume to several companies including EG&G, a contractor for the Nevada Test Site. He also sent a resume to Dr. Teller at Livermore, referencing their previous meeting.

Shortly afterwards, Lazar received a call from EG&G Special Projects, which was then located at McCarran Airport in Las Vegas. The company invited him for an interview, apparently based on Dr. Teller's recommendation, though Lazar didn't learn this detail until later.

Character Assessment Before Technical Skills

The initial interview process was unusually thorough and unconventional:

Interview conducted by a panel of people
Session lasted approximately 1.5 hours
Fewer technical questions than expected
Strong focus on personality and behavior under pressure

Rather than focusing primarily on Lazar's technical capabilities, interviewers seemed particularly interested in his temperament. They asked questions about his behavior under stress, such as "Do you get angry and throw screwdrivers?" This emphasis on demeanor initially struck Lazar as strange, as he expected more questions testing his technical knowledge.

Several days after this initial interview, EG&G called back with unexpected news. They indicated he was overqualified for the original position but mentioned another opportunity at a remote site on the test range that would require daily flights from Las Vegas.

Heightened Security in the Hiring Process

The security measures surrounding this new position were notably intense. While Lazar had experience with security protocols from previous positions, he described the security for this role as "more than oppressive." The clearance procedures went far beyond standard badge assignments and general security briefings.

The position came with stern warnings about national security violations, with potential penalties of 10 years in prison and $10,000 fines for security breaches. Despite the intimidating security requirements, Lazar viewed these measures positively, interpreting them as indicators that he would be working on something extraordinarily interesting and classified.

Job Offer Dynamics

From Underqualified to Overqualified

The job search process took an unexpected turn after relocating to Las Vegas from Los Alamos. Missing the scientific field, he sent resumes to several companies within driving distance, including EG&G. He also reached out to Dr. Edward Teller at Livermore, whom he had previously met during a lecture at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Shortly thereafter, EG&G Special Projects, then located at McCarran Airport, invited him for an interview. The initial meeting was conducted by a panel over approximately 90 minutes—an unusually long and somewhat intimidating process. Interestingly, the interview focused less on technical skills and more on personality traits and behavior under stress.

Several days after this first interview, EG&G called back with surprising news. Rather than offering the position discussed, they indicated he was overqualified for that role and would likely become bored. Instead, they proposed an alternative position at a remote testing facility.

Introduction to Remote Site Test Facility

The new position required regular flights from Las Vegas to a remote testing site. These daily flights, known as "key flights," transported personnel to restricted areas of the Nevada Test Site complex.

The security protocols for this position were remarkably stringent—far beyond standard confidentiality agreements. While previous positions had required signing basic non-disclosure forms, this position involved more comprehensive security measures that went well beyond the typical $10,000 fine and 10-year imprisonment warnings for security violations.

Despite the intimidating security requirements, he viewed these restrictions positively, interpreting them as indicators of an exceptionally interesting opportunity. The excessive security measures, rather than deterring him, actually increased his enthusiasm about the position's potential.

Secrecy Agreements and Security Measures

The recruitment process for classified government facilities involves multiple layers of scrutiny beyond standard employment procedures. Initial contact often occurs through unexpected channels, sometimes through professional connections with established scientists. In the case of sensitive facilities near Las Vegas, contractors like EG&G Special Projects (originally located at McCarran Airport before relocating behind Nellis Air Force Base) conducted rigorous screening processes.

The interview experience for such positions differs significantly from typical technical assessments. While some technical questions arise, boards of interviewers focus extensively on personality factors, stress responses, and temperament—evaluating candidates for security compatibility rather than merely technical competence.

Follow-up interviews may reveal that positions involve work at "remote sites" requiring daily flights from Las Vegas. These locations operate under extraordinary security protocols that exceed standard government confidentiality requirements.

Security documentation for these facilities goes far beyond typical non-disclosure agreements. The standard warnings about national security violations ($10,000 fines and 10-year imprisonment penalties) represent only the beginning of security measures. The actual security protocols encountered at these facilities are described as "oppressive" compared to normal government badge assignments and clearance procedures.

Scientists working at these facilities often display certain behavioral patterns:

Stubbornness - Particularly among older scientists and physicists
Closed-mindedness - Despite scientific training suggesting openness to new ideas
Territorial thinking - Reluctance to acknowledge concepts they didn't develop first

These traits appear consistently across various scientific laboratories and classified facilities, creating a recognizable professional culture within these restricted environments.

Area 51 Revelations: Bob Lazar's UFO Claims & Edward Teller Connection