AC_1965_Web

33 AN T I OC H CO L L E G E C L A S S O F 19 6 5 5 0 t h A N N I V E R S A R Y B O O K A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z E C K R O A D was doing consulting work in en- ergy storage systems for utility com- panies while pursuing my studies. In 1992 I took a position with the Electric Power Research Institute. At EPRI I continued my work in the development and commercializa- tion of energy storage systems, but also branched out into other areas of electric utility operations. I worked in both the Palo Alto and Charlotte, NC, offices of EPRI. In Charlotte, I managed EPRI’s program in un- derground transmission for several years and developed an innovative research apparatus for studying thermo-mechanical behavior of un- derground transmission systems. I also built up EPRI’s research program in superconductivity. In 2013 we returned to California as I began a three-year phased retire- ment program with EPRI.During this time I have remained very active in my various fields of expertise—pri- marily as a subject matter expert for a younger generation of researchers. In connection with both en- ergy storage and superconductivity I have been privileged to speak at conferences and workshops around the world—in Korea, Japan, and Germany as well as all over the U.S. I also organized and continue to sponsor through EPRI a biannual international conference in super- conducting technology for power delivery applications. I have worked closely over the years with repre- sentatives of the U.S. Departments of Energy and Homeland Security in mutual efforts to advance green and sustainable technology. I am cur- rently a member of an international advisory committee for the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) in Potsdam, Germany. The IASS, under the guidance of Nobel laureate Carlo Rubbia, is studying the feasibility of a 2000-kilometer superconducting transmission line that would bring massive amounts of solar power from North Africa to central Europe. Such power trans- mission lines would be unseen by the public (i.e., underground) and completely free of electromagnetic radiation, while performing at two to three times the efficiency of con- ventional lines. VICTORIES FOR HUMANITY Of course, my professional ca- reer is closely tied to improving the lot of humanity in the area of sustain- ability of natural resources.Winning a “victory for humanity” is a pretty grand statement that I am hesitant to claim. Nevertheless, I would like to think that my research work, and particularly the relationships I culti- vated and technology advances re- sulting from those relationships,will lead to significant betterment of hu- man civilization. I have seen some progress. When I started in energy storage over 30 years ago, very few utility companies were interested in deploying the technology. Now, there is a huge movement to put energy storage on the grid and we have entrepreneurs like Tesla prom- ising affordable, reliable and safe en- ergy storage—in homes as well as in cars. If not a victory for humanity at least it is a vindication to me for the many years I tried to push this tech- nology with so little external encour- agement. Someday, I hope, we will also have superconducting power transmission systems that are much greener than current approaches. There are other activities I have engaged in over the years in my personal time that fall into this realm, including volunteering at places like Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore and Second Harvest Food Bank, assisting in Red Cross blood drives, and teaching physics at a lo- cal private school when they lost their regular teacher.Winning a vic- tory for humanity goes beyond im- proving the earthly existence of mankind—whether rich or poor. There is a larger universe of need, one that embraces eternity. I hope that my life and Christian witness will have served that need as well when all is done.