Fortov studied physics at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, graduating in 1968. In 1971, he received his Candidate of Sciences degree, and in 1976 the Doctor of Sciences degree. He was a professor at the same university from 1982. Between 1971 and 1986 Fortov was employed at the Institute of Chemical Physics in Chernogolovka, and between 1986 and 1992, still being a part-time researcher at the same institution, he was also employed by the Joint Institute for High Temperatures. In 1992, he was appointed the director of this institute.[2]
From 1993 to 1997, Fortov was the chairman of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, the governmental organization responsible for funding fundamental research. In 1996, he also became a chairman of the State Committee of Science and Technology, and later a minister of science and technology. The government he was a part of retired in 1998.[2]
According to the law, the President of the Russian Academy of Sciences is formally appointed by the President of the Russian Federation. Vladimir Putin, who at the time was the president of Russia, only signed the appointment of Fortov on 8 July 2013.[3] On 20 March 2017, elections for the president of the Academy were scheduled, and Fortov ran as one of the three candidates. Unexpectedly the previous day all candidates retracted their nominations, and the elections were canceled.[4] On 22 March, Fortov resigned, citing health issues, and Valery Kozlov was appointed acting president.[5][6] Fortov's research was in the areas of thermal physics, shock waves, and plasma physics. He was involved with applications, in particular, to energy production.[7]
Fortov died on 29 November 2020, in Moscow, after being infected with COVID-19.[8]
