Ed recently retired from service to the U.S. Army after having served a distinguished active duty and civilian career. He is currently providing consulting services as the Owner/ Founder of AgileNergy, LLC
Career highlights include:
Dynamic leader for technology innovation and organizational change; AgileNrgy consulting leverages extensive service as senior leader within the US Army and DoD. Career includes dedicated active duty service in the United States (US) Army (1976 to 2001) followed by service as a government civilian employee in the Army Research Laboratory (ARL). Led dynamic organizational change, restructuring several ARL research divisions, providing new focus on emerging technologies for future capabilities. Directed technical projects in partnership with the Department of Defense (DOD), other federal agencies, industry and universities to create innovative technologies, to include novel energy materials, improved energy storage systems, intelligent power and sensor devices, and more efficient energy conversion systems.
PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS:
1) As lead consultant to University of Memphis (2021), structured proposed DoD focused innovation initiative: MINDS – Memphis Institute for National Defense & Security
2) As Chief of the new (2019) RF EW and DE Division within SEDD, established strategic direction for better integrated innovation programs within ARL and with partners across the Army Science & Technology Enterprise.
3) As Energy & Power Division Chief at ARL, reorganized and enhanced the research program in the area of energy and power at the Army Research Laboratory. Hired more than 20 additional scientists and engineers, and recapitalized more than $30M in facilities and infrastructure. Shed outdated programs in directed energy and created new efforts in alternative energy.
4) Chaired and led multiple high-level committees to accelerate development in energy and power research. These include the Army Power & Energy Integrated Product Team (IPT), the Army Power & Energy Technology Focus Team (TFT), the Army Energy & Power Community of Practice (CoP), the DoD/Joint Service Energy & Power Community of Interest (COI), and the Interagency Advanced Power Group (IAPG). Created common taxonomies and technology development roadmaps, identifying gaps and opportunities for leveraging and collaboration among organizations. Established requirements to shape new program efforts within Army ($80M+ per year) and Joint Service ($250M+ per year) science and technology portfolios.
5) As Senior Engineer, Solectria Corporation, designed a three-phase 33 kW AC inverter subsystem for
mobile power applications; designed power electronics and controls for an 8kVA bootstrap power subsystem for intelligent start up for a 75kW gas turbine "blackstart" distributed generation unit; designed and field tested (Singapore) a variable mode parallel hybrid motor/drive subsystem integrated with nickel metal hydride rechargeable battery packs (demonstrate auxiliary power, acceleration boost, stealth drive for a 20 T combat vehicle.
6) As Associate Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS), United
States Military Academy: ABET Director (2000 to 2001), established milestones and reviews, supervising 43 faculty in preparing "record year" documentation for successful 2002 Accreditation Board for Engineering Technology (ABET) evaluation. As Electrical Engineering (EE) Program Director (1999 to 2000), supervised 13 faculty delivering 18+ courses per year, managed 9 teaching labs housing $5M+ in equipment, marketed EE program to more than twice the number of EE majors in 1999 and three times the number in 2000 compared to 1998. As EE Course Director, executed EE curricula (Electrical Power Systems, Control Systems, Communications Theory, Electronics Design); selected resources, designed laboratory exercises, created "hands on" student project requirements, mentored junior faculty in pedagogy, implemented $100K+ upgrade of power and control laboratory facilities.
Work Experience
Innovation Consultant
AgileNrgy LLC
Pepperell, MA
2021 to present (part time, remote)
Division Chief
Department of the Army -
Adelphi, MD
2002 to 2020
2800 Powder Mill Road $180,000 per year
Adelphi, MD 20783 Average hours per week: 40
Division Chief Federal Grade: DB-0855-05
Duties, Accomplishments and Related Skills:
Direct Army Research Laboratory (ARL) energy and power and related technology development, programs and operations, serving for nine months in a Senior Executive Service (SES) position as Acting Director, Sensors and Electron Devices Directorate (SEDD).
Core Qualifications
LEADING CHANGE: Lead strategic change within and outside the organization to meet organizational,
Department of Defense (DOD) and national goals for energy science and technology development. Establish and implement an organizational vision in a continuously changing environment, transforming the ARL Directed Energy & Power Generation Division into the Energy & Power Division (2012), with a new vision focusing on future technology development opportunities. Established climate to support innovative technology projects, developing a vision for strategic areas to further meet customer needs.
LEADING PEOPLE: Apply interpersonal skills to lead 65+ scientists, engineers and staff to meet the organization's vision, mission and goals, leading as many as 350 people as Acting SEDD Director. Maintain an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and complies with Equal Employment Opportunity requirements. Provide formal training, informal mentoring and feedback to technical professionals developing alternative energy, battery and fuel cell electrochemistry, wide bandgap power-switching devices, power converters and compact energy storage systems. Encourage open discussion while supporting constructive resolution of conflicts.
RESULTS DRIVEN: Consistently meet or exceed organizational goals and customer expectations in the fields of sensor, electronics and power technology development. Make critical decisions that produce high- quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems and calculating risks. Champion and coordinate energy science and technology portfolio for the Army, with far-reaching implications for DOD, the nation and worldwide technical communities. Serve on the Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) Technology Focus Team (TFT), as Chair; as Steering Group Chair and Army Representative for the DOD Energy & Power Community of Interest (COI), and as Chair of the Interagency Advanced Power Group (IAPG), advising senior government leaders of innovative electric power production and energy storage development projects. Develop programs in broader SEDD and ARL areas including electronic materials, sensor processing, ground based tactical radar and target acquisition technology, smart munitions, Radio Frequency (RF) directed energy and sensor devices, and electromagnetic techniques.
BUSINESS ACUMEN: Strategically manage human, financial and information resources; preparing, justifying and managing more than $25M division annual budgets for Army research, development and technology programs, in addition to advising for more than $200M in SEDD mission and customer programs, science and engineering staff, facilities and infrastructure. Define division metrics to set performance standards and ensure employees are appropriately recruited, selected, appraised and rewarded. In leading organization-wide restructure, determined appropriate staffing levels and skill requirements to build and manage the workforce based on organizational goals, budget considerations and staffing needs. Develop and implement new technologies to achieve results, including new lithium Ion (Li-ion) battery materials; high power, high density silicon carbide (SiC) based power conditioning; counter Improvised Explosive Device (IED) systems; high energy storage for pulse power; and various intelligent devices, sensors and components. Make executive decisions and champion programs to senior Army and DOD leadership as TFT and COI leader and as Acting SEDD Director.
BUILDING COALITIONS: Build coalitions internally and with other federal agencies, state and local
governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations or international organizations to secure project
funding and achieve common goals. Provide clear and concise written reports and white papers, as well as effective oral presentations, to inform stakeholders and coordinate projects across multiple agencies to meet customer requirements. As Acting SEDD Director, coordinate and synchronize mission and technology development among four research divisions: RF & Electronics, Signal & Image Processing, Energy & Power, and Electro-Optics & Photonics. Partnered with industry to create advancements in SiC electronics, reducing material defects and developing new device test standards.
SELECTED HIGHLIGHTS:
*Served twice in SES position as Acting SEDD Director, ARL
*Served as Acting Director for the Vehicle Technologies Directorate, ARL
*Served as Chair of the Joint Services/DOD Energy & Power Community of Interest
*Initiated Project Blow Torch counter IED system, winning Army's Greatest Invention Award, 2006
*Developed stable 5V Li-ion battery chemistries; partnered with industry to increase energy densities by 30%
*Enhanced high-energy density capacitors for pulse power (adapted by US Navy for EM Rail Gun Program)
*Improved novel materials for energy harvesting, storage and conversion
*Investigated innovative renewable and alternative energy technologies
Education
Doctorate in Electrical Power Systems
Auburn University -
Auburn, AL
Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology -
Cambridge, MA
Bachelor's Degree in General Education
United States Military Academy -
West Point, NY
Other
Licensed Professional Engineer (Virginia)
Senior Life Member, IEEE
Eta Kappa Nu, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Societies