 Kerr was educated at Cornell University, receiving his BSEE in 1963, MS in Microwave Electronics in 1964, and Ph.D in plasma physics in 1966 for "Electronic Properties of the Penning Discharge Plasma".A fellow of the American Physical Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Kerr has published frequently on nuclear weapons efforts, national security and arms control, energy technology, and ionospheric research.He has received several awards for his public service, including the CIA Distinguished Intelligence Medal and the DOE Outstanding Service Award.