Operational Energy in Support of Deterrence

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)