2025 Seattle Fusion Week

Dr. Paul Pitre, Chancellor, Washington State University’s Everett Campus

Paul Pitre is Chancellor for Washington State University’s Everett campus. Dr. Pitre became Chancellor in September 2016, after serving as Academic Dean of the campus from 2011- 2016.

Dr. Pitre is an associate professor of Educational Leadership at WSU. Prior to accepting a faculty position at WSU, he was a member of the Auburn University faculty. Pitre has worked in Public Affairs for the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and as a Program Management Analyst at the U.S. Department of Education. He has also held several administrative posts in higher education.

His research interests center on P-20 education policy, leadership and governance in higher education, and college access and choice. Pitre received his doctorate in Education Policy and Leadership from the University of Maryland. He also received his master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from New York University and his bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies from Western Washington University.

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. 

Alex Cheung, Director of Design Integration, Zap Energy

Alex Cheung is the Director of Design Integration at Zap Energy, where he leads engineering initiatives that connect cutting-edge fusion science with practical hardware development. He brings over two decades of experience in fusion energy research, development, and project execution. Since joining Zap in 2022, Alex has led the design and commissioning of Century, a first-of-its-kind fusion test platform, and serves as the technical lead for Zap’s fusion pilot plant program. Prior to Zap, Alex spent more than 15 years at TAE Technologies, where he led multidisciplinary teams on fusion demonstration plants and contributed to the development of several key fusion devices. He also served as project manager for the construction and deployment of a novel radiation therapy system in China. Alex holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from the University of California, Irvine.

Jessie Barton, Director of Communications, Helion

Jessie Barton is the Director of Communications at Helion. She is a science communicator passionate about the merging of clean energy and innovative technology. In her role at Helion, she works with scientists and engineers to break down technical concepts to educate the public about Helion’s fusion technology.

In addition to her role at Helion, Jessie is a Board Member at the Technology Alliance and Seattle’s Furniture Repair Bank. Jessie earned her BA in Communications Studies from Drury University and an MS in Communication from Purdue University.

Bibake Uppal, Head of Kyoto Fusioneering America

Bibake Uppal leads KF America, Kyoto Fusioneering’s (KF) Seattle-based U.S. arm, where he drives strategic partnerships, business development, and external affairs across North America. Under his leadership, KF entered a novel public-private joint venture in Canada, expanded its U.S. commercial and strategic relationships, secured cooperative-research grants from the U.S. Department of Energy, and expanded its investor base to North America.

Before KF, Bibake led multinational teams advising large-cap clients in Energy, Resources & Industrials, and Food & Agriculture on M&A strategy and post-merger integration with Deloitte Consulting. He also served as a corporate communications strategist for a Canadian Crown corporation. In a prior life, he was an NCAA and CFL athlete, and a forest firefighter.

He holds an MBA and M.S. in Big Data and Business Analytics from IE Business School, and a B.A. in Communications from Simon Fraser University.

Mike Donaldson, Senior Vice President, Technology Development, General Fusion

Mike Donaldson is a systems engineer with more than 25 years of experience in the development of novel and disruptive technologies. He has broad experience in product development, production engineering and engineering management. He has led multidisciplinary teams in high-risk and complicated technical projects with a focus on risk reduction through rapid prototyping and physical testing.

Prior to joining General Fusion in 2009, Mr. Donaldson had been with Kodak (Creo) since 1999, contributing to production engineering and product development roles.

Mel Clark, President & CEO, CleanTech Alliance

Mel Clark is a leader with 25 years of nonprofit experience, as well as for-profit business experience in real estate and human resources.  She has a demonstrated track record of strong fiscal stewardship and program development.  She joined the CleanTech Alliance in April 2020.

She has two adult children, one in college studying computer science, the other a theatre technician at Disneyland.

She was born in Massachusetts, raised in Kansas, spent summers on the beach in Connecticut, and attended colleges in New York and Washington.  She is a life-long learner, and loves to read, travel, cook, bake, and garden, and enjoys hiking, yoga, swimming, diving, and tolerates running (long enough to finish a marathon in 2017). 

Spencer Cohen, Principal and Founder, High Peak Strategy LLC

Dr. Spencer Cohen is principal and founder of High Peak Strategy LLC, an economics and research consulting firm based in Seattle, Washington specializing in port operations, labor markets,  regional economic analysis, international trade research, and U.S.-China relations. High Peak Strategy LLC works with a diverse range of clients, including ports, economic development organizations, industrial development authorities, engineering firms, industry and trade associations, and local governments.

Dr. Cohen is a leading expert in port and trade economics, economic impact modeling, labor market analysis, and regional economic development. He has worked with clients across the U.S. and abroad, including in Florida, Washington, California, Texas, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, North Carolina, Maryland, Georgia, and the Asian Development Bank.

Dr. Cohen has a PhD in geography (economic geography) from the University of Washington, where his research examined land markets and local government finance in China. He has lived, studied, and conducted research in China. He was a 2021-2023 National Committee on U.S.-China Relations Public Intellectuals Program Fellow and 2023 American Mandarin Society fellow. Spencer serves on the board of the Seattle Economics Council and is an affiliate faculty with the University of Washington Department of Geography. He holds a BA in mathematics and history (double major) from the University of Connecticut and an MA in China Studies from the University of Washington.

Nirav Desai Founder of Moonbeam and Director of Innovation Acceleration & Strategy, HP

Nirav S. Desai is a entrepreneur, investor, and innovation strategist dedicated to transforming how corporations engage with emerging technologies and startups. As the Founder of Moonbeam, he has helped organizations across North America, Europe, and Asia embrace innovations and establish strategic plans for technology adoption, be that AI, spatial computing, novel computing platforms, or next generation energy. He worked with the CleanTech Alliance to develop the 2025 Washington State Fusion Energy Landscape Report. Nirav also serves as the Director of Innovation Acceleration & Strategy at HP, where he leads cross-functional initiatives that fast-track the development and commercialization of next-generation technologies. Based within HP’s Technology Innovation Office, his work focuses on catalyzing breakthroughs in Edge Computing, AI, immersive tech, and embedded hardware. Throughout his career, he has been recognized for his ability to connect innovation ecosystems, forge strategic alliances, and accelerate bold ideas from concept to market. He contributes to the innovation ecosystem through being a futurist for Jobs for the Future, a startup mentor for University or Washington and Nova University in Lisbon, Innovation co-chair for the Pacific Northwest Economic Region, and a board member for the Virtual World Society.

Laura Morton, Partner, Perkins Coie

Laura Morton is a partner in Perkins Coie’s Washington, D.C. office. She counsels energy companies and utilities pursuing the development of major onshore and offshore infrastructure projects, with a focus on federal environmental review, permitting, and natural resources. Laura’s clients seek her advice based on her deep regulatory knowledge and understanding of the intricacies of federal agency policy and practices following her almost decade of government service across multiple agencies. In addition to helping clients advance permitting for infrastructure development projects, she leverages her industry and government experience to counsel utilities and energy technology and manufacturing companies on strategies to navigate agency policy priorities and compliance requirements for multimillion-dollar federal funding and financing opportunities. Laura’s prior experience includes serving as acting Deputy Staff and senior advisor to the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, senior advisor in the Office of the U.S. Secretary of Energy, Deputy Associate Director for Energy and Climate Change at the White House Council for Environmental Quality (CEQ), and Policy Advisor at the Office of Management and Budget.

Kyle Murphy, Attorney, Cascadia Law

Kyle advises municipal governments, private companies, and nonprofits in several areas of environmental law, including climate and environmental policies, water resources, treaty rights, cleanup, and the Endangered Species Act. Prior to joining Cascadia, Kyle served as a Wildlife Law Research Fellow to Professor Todd Wildermuth and served as a teaching assistant and guest lecturer for undergraduate courses in the University of Washington Law, Societies and Justice Program. Kyle also worked as a consultant and strategist for Clean and Prosperous America’s climate change campaigns in 2019-2020. From 2014-2019, Kyle served as Co-Director and then the Executive Director of Carbon Washington. There, he co-led the ballot initiative campaign for Initiative 732, to enact a price on carbon, and spearheaded the successful campaign to create the sustainable farms and fields carbon sequestration program. He has been heavily involved in several other legislative and initiative efforts concerning climate change, carbon sequestration, and transportation. 

Tom Bugert, State Public Affairs, Helion Energy

Tom Bugert leads State and Local Public Affairs for Helion Energy, a fusion energy company based in Everett. Prior to Helion, Tom served as State Government Affairs Manager for REI Co-op, as Deputy Chief of Staff for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, and as State Government Affairs Director for The Nature Conservancy of Washington. Tom began his work in natural resources at Washington Wildlife & Recreation Coalition, first as an intern and then as State Policy Director before he joined the Coalition’s board.

Chris Ajemian, Consultant, Ajemian Consulting

Chris Ajemian is an independent consultant who works in fusion energy commercialization and energy policy. He was co-founder of CTFusion, a fusion energy startup that spun out of the University of Washington. He provides business development, legal, regulatory and environmental strategy.

Chris has 25 years of experience working with business, government, and non-profits. He has practiced corporate law, worked with the U.S. Departments of State and Energy, and worked in various clean energy ventures. He has built relationships with power utilities, venture funds, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, ARPAE, IAEA, and the environmental community. He founded and been a CEO for a software start-up, advised three U.S. presidential campaigns, and has been a journalist covering the White House and U.S. Congress.

His interests include leadership, fusion energy, corporate strategy, plasma physics, strategic planning, government, Asia, U.S. politics, foreign policy, and diplomacy. He works closely with the Cleantech Alliance of Washington and the Fusion Industry Association.

Kevin Schneider, Lab Fellow, Electrical Engineer, Pacific Northwest National Lab (PNNL)

Kevin Schneider is the manager of PNNLs Office of Electricity Sub-sector at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in Washington State. He is responsible for leading, coordinating, and implementing PNNLs strategic research in the design, planning, and operations of electrical power systems. PNNLs portfolio with the Office of Electricity consists of component design, system level modeling and analysis, hierarchical controls, cyber security and communications architectures, and energy storage. In addition to his role at PNNL, he is also Research Professor at Washington State University (WSU) as part of the PNNL/WSU Advanced Grid Institute (AGI).  Dr. Schneider received his B.S. degree in Physics and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of Washington. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in Washington State and a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE).

Steven Schunemann, Hydrogen Development Manager, Puget Sound Energy

Steve Schueneman works on emerging technology evaluation at Puget Sound Energy, with a focus on clean hydrogen, geothermal energy, small modular nuclear, carbon capture and utilization, and fusion energy.  He has been at PSE for 20 years, holding a variety of roles in engineering, asset integrity management, corrosion control, emergency response, and gas operations.  In recent years he has been involved in clean energy strategy and hydrogen development and continues to be actively involved with the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association.  He is a California native and holds a degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.  He currently lives in Seattle with his wife, two teenage daughters, a noisy doodle, and a very quiet bearded dragon lizard.   

Andy Ferrera, Partner, Kinetic West

Andy is a Partner at Kinetic West and joined the team in 2018. Andy began his career as an elementary school teacher in Washington, DC, before returning home to the Pacific Northwest in the Seattle office for the Boston Consulting Group. Andy’s work centers on collective impact / system strategy and implementation – focusing on workforce development, education, homelessness, and housing that bring together community, government, business, labor, non-profits, and philanthropy to work together towards a common goal. Andy has an MBA from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor’s in Environmental Studies from Dartmouth College.

Bri O’Connell, Talent Operations Manager, Helion Energy

Bri O’Connell’s career has taken her across energy, manufacturing, and big tech sectors—spanning roles in Europe, South America, and the U.S. Her time abroad sparked a passion for driving global change toward a cleaner, better energy future.
At Helion Energy, Bri leads the Talent Operations team, building the hiring programs, processes, and tools that connect exceptional talent to our mission: a future with unlimited clean energy. She launched Helion’s first internship program to support the next generation of clean energy innovators. As the fusion space scales, she’s helping future innovators understand and develop the skills that will shape this growing sector!

Spencer Cohen, Principal and Founder, High Peak Strategy LLC

Dr. Spencer Cohen is principal and founder of High Peak Strategy LLC, an economics and research consulting firm based in Seattle, Washington specializing in port operations, labor markets,  regional economic analysis, international trade research, and U.S.-China relations. High Peak Strategy LLC works with a diverse range of clients, including ports, economic development organizations, industrial development authorities, engineering firms, industry and trade associations, and local governments.

Dr. Cohen is a leading expert in port and trade economics, economic impact modeling, labor market analysis, and regional economic development. He has worked with clients across the U.S. and abroad, including in Florida, Washington, California, Texas, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, North Carolina, Maryland, Georgia, and the Asian Development Bank.

Dr. Cohen has a PhD in geography (economic geography) from the University of Washington, where his research examined land markets and local government finance in China. He has lived, studied, and conducted research in China. He was a 2021-2023 National Committee on U.S.-China Relations Public Intellectuals Program Fellow and 2023 American Mandarin Society fellow. Spencer serves on the board of the Seattle Economics Council and is an affiliate faculty with the University of Washington Department of Geography. He holds a BA in mathematics and history (double major) from the University of Connecticut and an MA in China Studies from the University of Washington.

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. 

Sam Samano, Business Engagement Specialist, Workforce Snohomish

Sam Samano is a Business Engagement Specialist with Workforce Snohomish. She has over 20 years of experience in building strong business connections and strategic partnerships. Her specialization lies in workforce development across key sectors, including Aerospace, Manufacturing, Apprenticeship, and Construction, while also supporting employers in a wide variety of other industries.

Passionate about empowering local businesses, Sam collaborates closely with Snohomish County employers to connect them with skilled talent, training resources, and customized workforce solutions. Her comprehensive understanding of regional industry needs and commitment to collaboration make her a trusted partner in strengthening the local economy and fostering sustainable employment pathways.

Additionally, Sam serves as a Workforce Representative on the Boards of Directors for the Greater Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce and HopeWorks, guiding strategic initiatives that benefit both business and nonprofit communities.

Dr. Clemente Parga, Engineering Manager, Materials, Manufacturing, and Qualifications (MMQ), Zap Energy

Dr. Clemente Parga specializes in the design and development of refractory alloys (W, Ta, Re, Ru, Mo, Co, Nb, Zr, Ti, Hf), metal carbide/boride compounds, Ni-superalloys, copper, titanium and aluminum alloys. He has extensive experience on eutectic systems, oxidation, liquid metal corrosion, brazing, LASER and electron-beam melting of materials, among others. He obtained his Ph.D in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Idaho., and his M.Sc. and B.Sc. in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering from the University of Texas at El Paso. Clemente worked at Blue Origin as a Liquid Fuel Rocket Engine Materials and Processes Engineer, and was the Lead M&P Engineer on the BE-7 Liquid Hydrogen-Oxygen Engine for the Blue Moon Lunar Lander. Clemente also worked at the Idaho National Laboratory on the TREAT Reactor Fuel Conversion program and as a researcher for the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) at the Cadarache’s Research Centre, the host site for the ITER fusion reactor.

Brent Roberts, Vice President of Growth Market Strategy, Siemens

Brent has worked in Technology and Life Science industries for the past 23 years in various, Engineering, Business Development, and End to End Supply Chain. Brent is the VP of Digital Evangelist /Transformation with Siemens Digital Industries Software. He evangelizes Siemens digital solutions from end-to-end across the portfolio in numerous Industry verticals. Prior to Siemens, Brent was the Vice President of Supply Chain Strategy for WL Gore’s Medical Division where his focus was on evolving supply chain and manufacturing operations to take full advantage of the capabilities in today’s digital environment from a data, connections and transactions point of view. Additionally, Brent was the Director of Technology Transfer for Intel’s Organic Packaging Operations where he was responsible for the design, development, and transfer of facilities, equipment and processes related to global organic substrate operations.

Dr. John McCloy, Professor and Director, School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering, Washington State University

Dr. John S. McCloy is Professor and Director of the School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering and Lindholm Endowed Chair in Materials Engineering at Washington State University (WSU), and a joint appointee at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). His professional career includes academia (WSU, 12 y), national laboratory (PNNL, 5 y), and industry (Raytheon, etc., 10 y). At WSU, he leads the Nuclear, Optical, Magnetic, & Electronic (NOME) Materials Lab and the Crystals and SemiConductors (CASC) group, both within the Institute of Materials Research (IMR). These groups develop materials solutions for energy, environment, and security applications. Over his career, he has worked on diverse engineering problems, including cryogenics, composite structures, telescopes, optical ceramics, magnetic nanoparticles, ancient materials technologies, nuclear fuels, single crystal growth, and glass development for optics and immobilization of radioactive waste. He holds degrees in Materials Science & Engineering (MSE) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (BS) and the University of Arizona (MS, PhD). He is co-author on over 300 journal articles, book chapters, conference proceedings, public reports, and patents. He is a Fellow of the American Ceramic Society, a Fellow of SPIE, an elected member of the Washington State Academy of Sciences, and a Fulbright Scholar.

Jill Thornton, Executive Director, Center of Excellence for Aerospace and Advanced Manufacturing

Jill Thornton is the Executive Director of the Center of Excellence for Aerospace and Advanced Manufacturing, where she leads statewide initiatives to align educational programs with the evolving needs of industry. With deep expertise in managing grants from the U.S. Department of Labor and Department of Education, Jill has played a pivotal role in launching mechatronics programs and advancing student success strategies. A dedicated advocate for workforce development, she works at the intersection of education, industry, and innovation to build pathways that meet the demands of a rapidly evolving aerospace and advanced manufacturing sectors.

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.

Ryan Umstattd, VP of Product & Partnerships, Zap Energy

Ryan is the Vice President of Product and Partnerships for Zap Energy where he is developing the go-to-market strategy for cost-effective fusion energy. After completing his PhD in Applied Science (Plasma Physics), Ryan served for 20 years in the Air Force as a scientist, professor, and program manager for a first-of-its kind satellite. Prior to transitioning to the private sector, he also served at the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy (ARPA-E) where he helped prepare breakthrough energy technologies for transition from the lab to customers within the Department of Defense. During his last year at ARPA-E, he was the Deputy Director for Commercialization, responsible for oversight of 11 tech-to-market advisors and the hands-on management provided to 300+ project teams for a $250M/yr research and development portfolio.

Mike Prato, Director of Strategy, Avalanche Energy

Michael joined Avalanche in early 2023 following a twenty-three year career in the United States Marine Corps and three years working as a strategy consultant and business developer advisor to companies involved with Department of Defense logistics and acquisitions programs in Washington, D.C. He brings a wealth of knowledge in building functional organizations and working with government agencies to deliver complex projects. As Director of Strategy at Avalanche, Michael will lead strategic partnerships with government, academia and industry partners. Michael loves to fish, hunt and ride motorcycles and as recent Seattle transplants, he, his wife and their baby daughter look forward to exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest outdoors.

Rachelle Ames, Vice President of Economic Development, CleanTech Alliance

Rachelle Ames leads the BUILT Cluster focusing on decarbonizing infrastructure and built environment and one of the initial clusters launched by the Washington State Department of Commerce’s Innovation Cluster Accelerator Program. She also leads the Alliance’s entrepreneur support programs and has developed the new Lab2Launch resource focusing on breaking down barriers between industry and the Northwest’s academic institution resources.

In addition to entrepreneur support and commercialization activities, she leads member and sponsors development and engagement, and partnership outreach for the Alliance. Rachelle joined the CleanTech Alliance in 2018, after five years at Washington State University working within the Office of Research and focused on industry-academia engagement and technology transfer.

She has a Professional Science Masters (PSM) in Molecular Biosciences from Washington State University and is passionate about helping scientists, engineers, technical founders, and industry communicate their technologies and innovations to others to increase collaboration opportunities through shared understanding.

Outside of work, Rachelle enjoys playing tennis with her husband – Collin, laughing at their two cats, attending rock concerts, and cheering for her favorite sports teams (Go Cougs, Seahawks, and Mariners!)

Bibake Uppal, Head of Kyoto Fusioneering America

Bibake Uppal leads KF America, Kyoto Fusioneering’s (KF) Seattle-based U.S. arm, where he drives strategic partnerships, business development, and external affairs across North America. Under his leadership, KF entered a novel public-private joint venture in Canada, expanded its U.S. commercial and strategic relationships, secured cooperative-research grants from the U.S. Department of Energy, and expanded its investor base to North America.

Before KF, Bibake led multinational teams advising large-cap clients in Energy, Resources & Industrials, and Food & Agriculture on M&A strategy and post-merger integration with Deloitte Consulting. He also served as a corporate communications strategist for a Canadian Crown corporation. In a prior life, he was an NCAA and CFL athlete, and a forest firefighter.

He holds an MBA and M.S. in Big Data and Business Analytics from IE Business School, and a B.A. in Communications from Simon Fraser University.

Ed Leggott, Technical Account Manager, Siemens DISW

Ed Leggott is a Systems Engineer with over 15 years industry experience from both ​Oil & Gas and Aerospace. Ed has held multiple project, engineering management and digital initiative responsibilities before joining Siemens in 2019 with the US Presales team.​

Today Ed supports Emerging Markets as a trusted advisor to help business teams understand bigger picture concepts and digital maturity as they embark on their digitalization journey.​

Shaun Walsh, Chief Marketing Officer, Peak Nano

Shaun Walsh is a long-time student and practitioner of marketing, seeking a balance between storytelling, technology, and market/audience development. He has held various executive and senior management positions in marketing, sales, engineering, alliances, and corporate development at Cylance (now BlackBerry), Security Scorecard, Emulex (now Broadcom), and NetApp. He has helped develop numerous start-ups that have achieved successful exits, including IPOs (Overland Data, JNI) and M&A deals with (Emuelx, Cylance, and Igneous). Mr. Walsh is an active industry speaker (RSA, BlackHat, InfoSec, SNIA, FS-ISAC), media/podcasts contributor (Wall Street Journal, Forbes, CRN, MSSP World), and founding editor of The Cyber Report. He loves lifting heavy things for CrossFit and strongman competitions, waiting for Comic Con, trying to design the perfect omelet, or rolling on the mat. Mr. Walsh holds a BS in Management from Pepperdine University. 

Dr. Jim McCarrick, High Energy Density (HED) and Photon Systems Program Director, Lawrence Livermore National Lab (LLNL)

Jim McCarrick is the Program Director for the High Energy Density (HED) and Photon Systems element within the NIF & Photon Science (NIF&PS) Directorate at Lawrence Livermore National Lab (LLNL). He oversees development and deployment of advanced short-pulse lasers and the experimental platforms and systems that leverage those lasers, with application to HED science and inertial fusion energy.

Jim has been at LLNL for 26 years and has worked in a variety of science and engineering areas that serve LLNL’s core mission of strategic deterrence. In recent years his focus has been bringing LLNL’s capabilities to adjacent national needs, primarily for the Department of Defense and Department of Energy. He holds a B.S. degree in Applied and Engineering Physics from Cornell University, and a Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering from MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center, where he studied magnetic fusion.

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.

Mike Heumann, Founder & Principal Analyst, Ignition Research

Mike Heumann is the lead analyst at Ignition Research, and has held executive positions and provided strategic consulting for global high-technology companies in the energy, electric vehicle, cybersecurity, and datacenter markets for over two decades. He has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin, a Master of Science Degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, and successfully completed the Stanford University/AEA Executive Institute Program. His experience in the energy and EV industry includes market sizing/forecasting, strategic positioning, product management and marketing, and merger and acquisition consulting for a number of leading companies and venture capital firms on a worldwide basis.

Aaron Feaver, Executive Director, Joint Center for Deployment and Research in Earth Abundant Materials (JCDREAM)

As Executive Director of JCDREAM, Aaron is a global expert on the move to engineered materials solutions for clean technology with a concentration on the synthesis and processing of high-performance carbon materials. He co-founded EnerG2 and has written and spoken extensively on nanotechnology topics. He led the company’s technology development from inception at the labs of the University of Washington in 2003 to a venture-backed business.

Under Aaron’s technical leadership, EnerG2 closed its first large sales and implemented its products in a commercial setting. This was the result of many people’s hard work and, in addition to reinforcing EnerG2’s vision, it showed that the company could deliver a genuine cost-benefit for its customers as well as a really useful solution. EnerG2 has never been about science for science’s sake; instead it’s about developing products that people can actually use to improve the world.

Prior to Aaron’s focus on nanotechnology, he was a project manager and engineer for Boeing’s Design for Environment / Manufacturing initiative. He also worked in a manufacturing engineering capacity on all of Boeing’s commercial airplanes. Aaron currently serves on the Board of Advisors at the University of Washington’s Materials Science and Engineering Department. Aaron received a BS from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a Ph.D. in Materials Science from the University of Washington.

Dr. Jim McCarrick, High Energy Density (HED) and Photon Systems Program Director, Lawrence Livermore National Lab (LLNL)

Jim McCarrick is the Program Director for the High Energy Density (HED) and Photon Systems element within the NIF & Photon Science (NIF&PS) Directorate at Lawrence Livermore National Lab (LLNL). He oversees development and deployment of advanced short-pulse lasers and the experimental platforms and systems that leverage those lasers, with application to HED science and inertial fusion energy.

Jim has been at LLNL for 26 years and has worked in a variety of science and engineering areas that serve LLNL’s core mission of strategic deterrence. In recent years his focus has been bringing LLNL’s capabilities to adjacent national needs, primarily for the Department of Defense and Department of Energy. He holds a B.S. degree in Applied and Engineering Physics from Cornell University, and a Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering from MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center, where he studied magnetic fusion.

Dr. Tom Lograsso, Director, Critical Materials Innovation Hub, Ames National Lab

Thomas Lograsso became the CMI Director on May 27, 2020. He served as CMI interim director from November 2019 to May 2020, and led the CMI Focus Area 2, Developing Substitutes from 2014 to 2019. Previously he led Focus Area 4, Crosscutting Research while serving as the interim director of the Ames Laboratory.  Also at Ames Lab, Tom led a BES Synthesis & Processing effort on Novel Materials Preparation and Processing Methodology, whose goal is to develop synthesis protocols for new materials including quasicrystals, ferromagnetic shape memory alloys, and those that may contain volatile reactive or toxic components especially in single crystalline form.  Often his pioneering synthesis efforts result in the first single crystals of these novel materials to be grown and studied for intrinsic behavior. 

Dr. Lograsso received his education in metallurgical engineering at Michigan Technological University, earning his Ph.D. in 1986.  He did postdoctoral training working on the Rensselaer team, developing the Isothermal Dendritic Growth Experiment (IDGE) that flew on the Space Shuttle in the late 1990s.  The IDGE tested the fundamental solidification physics of the pattern formation and kinetics of crystal growth in isothermal undercooled melts in growth regimes where gravity driven convection overwhelmed the growth in terrestrial conditions.

Sen. Marko Liias, Senator for Washington’s 21st Legislative District, Washington State Legislature

Senator Marko Liias is a lifelong Washingtonian born and raised in the neighborhoods he now serves. He represents the communities of the 21st Legislative District, which includes neighborhoods in Edmonds, Everett, Lynnwood, and Mukilteo.  

Marko was appointed to the House of Representatives in 2008 and won re-election three times. He was appointed to the Senate in 2014 and is currently serving his third term as a senator.    

Throughout his service in the Legislature, he has prioritized policies to increase access to public transportation across Washington, provide educational and career opportunities for students, make the state safer and more inclusive for LGBTQ+ youth, and build an economy that works for everyone.    

As chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, Marko championed the 2022 Move Ahead Washington transportation package which will invest nearly $17 billion in transportation resources across the state over the next 16 years while creating quality, family-wage jobs. The package prioritizes the future of Washington by investing in a sustainable transportation sector that addresses the climate crisis. Through funding to electrify the transportation sector, invest in active transportation, and expand transit options, Move Ahead Washington is a shift towards a greener transportation sector.   

Dr. Jim McCarrick, High Energy Density (HED) and Photon Systems Program Director, Lawrence Livermore National Lab (LLNL)

Jim McCarrick is the Program Director for the High Energy Density (HED) and Photon Systems element within the NIF & Photon Science (NIF&PS) Directorate at Lawrence Livermore National Lab (LLNL). He oversees development and deployment of advanced short-pulse lasers and the experimental platforms and systems that leverage those lasers, with application to HED science and inertial fusion energy.

Jim has been at LLNL for 26 years and has worked in a variety of science and engineering areas that serve LLNL’s core mission of strategic deterrence. In recent years his focus has been bringing LLNL’s capabilities to adjacent national needs, primarily for the Department of Defense and Department of Energy. He holds a B.S. degree in Applied and Engineering Physics from Cornell University, and a Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering from MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center, where he studied magnetic fusion.

Dr. Pattrick Calderoni, Technical Lead, Fusion Program, Idaho National Laboratory

Pattrick Calderoni is the technical lead for fusion research activities at the Idaho National Laboratory. He is the Principal Investigator of the Blanket Nuclear Testing (BNT) Fusion Innovation Research Engine (FIRE), the primary interface with the DOE Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) office and coordinates a broad portfolio of research projects focused on fusion technology. His technical expertise includes fusion breeder materials, blanket design and tritium technology.

Dr. Calderoni has more than 20 years’ experience in the development of fission and fusion energy systems and testing of nuclear components. He recently served as the National Technical Director for the DOE Advanced Sensor and Instrumentation (ASI) program, which is an element of the Department of Energy, Nuclear Energy research portfolio. In addition to instrumentation, his technical expertise includes sodium and molten salt reactors. Dr. Calderoni’s leadership extends globally, having contributed to experiments in various nuclear research facilities, including the INL Advanced Test Reactor (ATR), Transient Reactor Test Facility (TREAT), and international facilities like the Monju reactor in Japan and research reactors in Europe.

Dr. Calderoni holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from
University of California, Los Angeles, and a B.S. in Nuclear Engineering
from Universita’ di Bologna, Italy. He is affiliated with the Project
Management Institute, holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) certificate, and is a member of the American Nuclear Society.

Troy Carter, Director of Fusion Energy Division, Oak Ridge National Lab

Troy Carter was named Director of Fusion Energy Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in July 2024. Carter oversees the division’s world-class technical capabilities in plasma physics, fusion materials and fusion technologies. He is responsible for developing major projects such as the Materials Plasma Exposure eXperiment, or MPEX, and ORNL’s research contributions to the international ITER experiment. 

Carter was previously a Professor of Physics at the University of California, Los Angeles for 22 years. There Carter was the Director of the Basic Plasma Science Facility (BaPSF), a national collaborative research facility for plasma science supported by DOE and NSF. He was also the Director of the Plasma Science and Technology Institute (PSTI), an organized research unit at UCLA. His research into waves, instabilities, turbulence and transport in magnetically confined plasmas is motivated by the desire to understand processes in space and astrophysical plasmas as well as by the need to develop carbon-free electricity generation via nuclear fusion. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and is a recipient of the APS DPP John Dawson Excellence in Plasma Physics Research Award.

Carter has served on a range of advisory committees for the plasma physics and fusion research communities, including the DOE Fusion Energy Sciences Advisory Committee, the Scientific Advisory Board (Fachbeirat) for the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics, and Program Advisory Committees for the DIII-D and Alcator C-Mod tokamaks and the NSF Frontier Center for Magnetic Self Organization.  Carter served on the NASEM Committee for the 2020 Decadal Assessment of Plasma Science and led the DOE FESAC Long Range Planning process that resulted in the 2021 report “Powering the Future: Fusion and Plasmas.”  He was awarded the Fusion Power Associates Leadership Award in recognition of his fusion community leadership contributions. 

Arturo Dominguez, Head of Science Education, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL)

Arturo Dominguez joined the Laboratory in 2012 after graduating from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a degree in experimental plasma physics. He was born and raised in Bogota, Colombia, and began his college education at the National University of Colombia before moving to the United States to continue his college education at the University of Texas at Austin where he received a bachelor’s degree in physics with honors.

Among other accomplishments, Dominguez developed the plasma physics and fusion energy online introductory course that kicks off summer internships. When the in-person course switched to a live remote workshop in 2020 and 2021, the course attracted 10 times the usual number of participants, with more than 400 students from all over the country tuning into the course.

Andy Casella, Nuclear Engineer; Director, Advanced Nuclear Materials Directorate Objective, Pacific Northwest National Lab (PNNL)

Andrew Casella, PhD, joined Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in 2006, as a Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy alternate sponsored fellow after completing his graduate research focused on modeling gas and particulate transport in dry spent nuclear fuel canisters. He now is a nuclear engineer focused on the characterization of materials performance in nuclear systems. 

Based in the Nuclear Sciences Division, Casella contributes to modeling and experimental efforts used to better understand several nuclear and chemical systems. This includes roles as the science task lead for PNNL’s Tritium Technology program, managing the TerraPower Natrium effort at PNNL, project manager for PNNL participation in high-energy physics accelerator targetry efforts, and manager of PNNL’s plutonium metal processing projects. He also is director of the Advanced Nuclear Materials Directorate Objective in PNNL’s Energy and Environment Directorate.