2025 Seattle Fusion Week

Dr. Christopher Keane, Senior Advisor to the Provost and Executive Vice President, Professor of Physics, Washington State University

Dr. Christopher Keane is Senior Advisor to the Provost at Washington State University (WSU) and Professor of Physics. From July 2014 to December 2023, he served as Vice President for Research at WSU and Vice Chancellor for Research of the WSU Pullman campus. He led WSU efforts to expand research and scholarship opportunities for WSU faculty and staff, bring WSU innovations to the marketplace, improve the University’s research infrastructure and operational performance, and enhance research funding. During his tenure WSU significantly expanded its large research awards and partnerships with other leading research institutions.

Prior to joining WSU in 2014, Dr. Keane performed a variety of scientific and leadership roles related to inertial confinement fusion (ICF) at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), ultimately serving as Director of the National Ignition Facility (NIF) User Office. Dr. Keane also served in the U.S. Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration as a member of the Senior Executive Service, where he led the U.S. ICF Program, including construction of the stadium-sized NIF laser and development of the NIF ignition program.

Dr. Keane holds B.S. degrees in Physics and Engineering from the University of Rochester, and a Ph.D. in astrophysics from Princeton University. He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and a member of the Washington State Academy of Sciences and the American Physical Society. He is the recipient of the NNSA Silver Medal, the Defense Programs Award of Excellence, and the Fusion Power Associates Special Award.

Kate Kelly, Chief of Staff, Avalanche Energy

Kate is Chief of Staff at Avalanche Energy: a Seattle-based, venture-backed fusion energy startup developing modular fusion microreactors. Prior to joining Avalanche, Kate worked in Product Management at DreamBox Learning and Microsoft. Kate is an Electrical Engineer by training, having previously worked in nuclear consulting and always dreamed of working on Climate Tech. 

Andy Freeberg, Head of Communications, Zap Energy

Andy Freeberg is the Head of Communications at Zap Energy, leading the company’s efforts to engage and educate key audiences about Zap’s work to unlock the transformative potential of fusion energy. He comes to Zap with a long track record of science and technology communications, including at the University of Washington, the Pacific Marine Energy Center, the DOE’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory at Stanford University, and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. Before that, he earned an MFA in Science and Natural History Filmmaking from MSU-Bozeman and a BS in Radio/Television/Film and Environmental Science from Northwestern University.

Dr. Greg Van Dyk, CEO, Altrusion

Dr. Greg Van Dyk is the CEO of Altrusion, a fusion energy supply chain company located in Sedro-Woolley, WA. Prior to his role in Altrusion, Col (ret) Van Dyk’s Air Force career included conducting research to leading international efforts and large programs. His nuclear engineering PhD involved both computational and experimental fusion research and was followed by a tour at the Department of Energy (DOE) leading an office funding over $200 million in yearly research and development (R&D) at 3 national laboratories. Following his tour at DOE, Dr. Van Dyk led two Department of Defense (DoD) multi-billion-dollar Acquisition Category (ACAT) 1 programs, one in development and one transitioning into production. Following his program management positions, he was named as the Chief Scientist of the largest DoD acquisition program in development and led multiple R&D efforts across DoD and DOE. Dr. Van Dyk was then stationed in the United Kingdom leading joint research between the U.K. Ministry of Defence and the U.S. Air Force and served as DoD’s lead for fusion technologies engaging the U.K. and U.S. fusion energy and space propulsion communities.