In this fourth episode of our "Regaining the Strategic Initiative" series, our esteemed panel examines different aspects of operation energy in support of deterrence in the South China Sea, and elsewhere. Our panelists are:
Erik Limpaecher - Erik leads the Energy Systems Group at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, a Department of Defense Federally Funded R&D Center. His team focuses on contested fuel logistics solutions and the energy resilience of DoD installations. Erik’s team has engineered advanced fuels for ground and undersea platforms, hybrid power system for remote bases, and performs power outage exercises of large defense installations. His teams have won three R&D 100 awards for transitioning technology to industry. Prior to coming to MIT, Erik was co-founder and CTO of two profitable companies—backed by investors such as Gates, Khosla, and Olsen—that built some of the first microgrids in the U.S. Erik holds degrees in Electrical Engineering and Finance from Princeton University and is a Senior Member of the IEEE.
Benjamin Richardson - Ben is the Director of the Advanced Energy and Materials (AE&M) Portfolio at the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). Ben and his team are responsible for delivering strategic energy and materials capabilities to the military by accelerating the adoption of commercial technology and strengthening the national security innovation base. The AE&M Portfolio is focused on three primary lines of effort: Advanced Energy & Storage, Alternative Storage & Mobility, and Materials & Sustainment. Prior to joining DIU, Ben served in various senior positions in the Pentagon to include the Director of Critical Technology Protection in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and the Director of Global Markets and Investments in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics. In these roles, he developed and promulgated policies to protect critical Department of Defense technologies, through oversight of Industrial Base Policy, Supply Chain Risk Management, Industrial Security, Information Security, and the Joint Acquisition Protection and Exploitation Cell. In addition, Ben served as the DoD lead on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.
James Caley - Jim was appointed as the Director for Operational Energy in September 2016. He serves as the Secretary of the Navy’s focal point on all matters pertaining to Operational Energy. A former Marine colonel, he served in the transportation, logistics, and communications fields since 1989. He is an experienced operational and strategic planner on issues relating to the Asia-Pacific, South Asia, and the Middle East. His current focus is on fuel distribution in contested environments, power and energy for directed energy weapons systems, advanced batteries, advanced propulsion, persistent intelligence surveillance, and reconnaissance.
Intro/outro music is "Evolution" from BenSound.com (https://www.bensound.com)
