Dr. Stewart David Nozette (born May 20, 1957) is an American scientist and astronomer. He has worked for the United States Department of Energy, the United States Department of Defense, and NASA. His research has resulted in multiple publications in the journal Science. The FBI arrested him October 19, 2009, charging him with attempted espionage, after a sting operation. Nozette attempted to sell U.S. classified information to someone he believed was an Israeli Mossad operative, but was in reality an undercover Federal Bureau of Investigation employee. He pleaded guilty to one charge of espionage and was sentenced, under the terms of a plea bargain, to thirteen years in prison.
Nozette was born in Chicago, Illinois on May 20, 1957, to Helen and Morris Nozette. He grew up in Chicago’s heavily Jewish West Rogers Park neighborhood. His parents were involved in the local reform temple. However, Stewart showed little interest in Jewish matters as an adult.
