Dive into the evolution of nonlinear science! This paper offers a personal history of the Center for Nonlinear Studies (CNLS) at Los Alamos National Laboratory, tracing its scientific journey over four decades. The author, a former Postdoctoral Fellow and CNLS Director, provides a unique perspective on the center's development, emphasizing the enduring influence of David Campbell. While not an exhaustive account, this history highlights major scientific accomplishments achieved at CNLS. The author attempts to quantify the attributes that made the Center a special institution with remarkable impact and longevity. The scientific phases of CNLS are explored through the lens of personal experience. The CNLS owes much to the legacy of David Campbell, whose foundations and operating principles were the source for the center's success. This personal history offers valuable insights into the evolution of nonlinear science and the factors that contributed to the enduring success of CNLS.
Published in Chaos: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Nonlinear Science, this personal history aligns directly with the journal's focus. By providing a historical perspective on a leading center for nonlinear studies, the paper contributes to a broader understanding of the field's development and its key contributors. This is highly relevant to the journal's interdisciplinary audience interested in the evolution and impact of nonlinear science.