In order to test ab-initio calculations of light nuclei, we have remeasured lifetimes in 10 Be using the Doppler Shift Attenuation Method (DSAM) following the 7 Li( 7 Li,α) 10 Be reaction at 8 and 10 MeV. The new experiments significantly reduce systematic uncertainties in the DSAM technique. The J π = 2 + 1 state at 3.37 MeV has τ = 205±(5)stat±(7)sys fs corresponding to a B(E2↓) of 9.2(3) e 2 fm 4 in broad agreement with many calculations. The J π = 2 + 2 state at 5.96 MeV was found to have a B(E2↓) of 0.11(2) e 2 fm 4 and provides a more discriminating test of nuclear models. New Green's Function Monte Carlo (GFMC) calculations for these states and transitions with a number of Hamiltonians are also reported and compared to experiment.Several ab-initio approaches, i.e., theoretical methods that start from "bare" nucleon-nucleon (NN ) potentials (that reproduce elastic NN scattering data) and empirical three-nucleon (3N ) potentials, are being developed for nuclear physics. Green's Function Monte Carlo (GFMC) [1,2] and the no-core shell model (NCSM) [3,4] are two methods that are used most to study p-shell nuclei. They have been successful in reproducing many features, including absolute binding energies and excitation spectra [5], charge radii [6,7], and electromagnetic moments [8]. These methods are being developed as successors to the original nuclear shell model [9,10] and have provided new insight into the origin of the spinorbit force, decoupling of poorly bound neutrons, and clustering of nucleons in light nuclei. Several aspects of the 3N force are not yet well constrained, particularly the isospin dependence. This is important for the equation of state of neutron matter and the properties of neutron stars. Thus, testing these approaches by studying some of the lightest nuclei can provide insights into some of the largest extended nuclear objects in the cosmos.The A = 10 nuclei 10 Be, 10 B, and 10 C have long provided a stringent test of nuclear models. Kurath [10] discussed the need for an unusually strong spin-orbit interaction to correctly reproduce the sequence of levels in 10 B. In these nuclei, the p-shell is half-filled and more than one state can be created with the same spin-parity J π , isospin T , and spatial symmetry. For example, 10 Be has two J π =2 + , T =1 states at 3.37 and 5.96 MeV with dominant wave-function components 1 D 2 [442]. These states have very different properties and provide a delicate test of both the Hamiltonians and the calculational methods. The Argonne v 18 (AV18) NN [11] interaction predicts a separation of only 0.23(15) MeV for these states, one with a negative (oblate) intrinsic quadrupole moment and a small B(E2) decay to the ground state, and one with a positive (prolate) quadrupole moment which is much more collective. The oblate state is lower in energy with just AV18. Calculations including 3N potentials tend to separate the states and bring the more collective prolate-deformed level lower in energy. The ratio of electromagnetic decays from these states to t...