Leadership
The LDES National Consortium will maintain a Leadership Team of 14 positions that will champion the development and success for the LDES National Consortium.
Six Leadership Team positions will be held for the duration of the project by the following individuals in representation of the National Laboratories that received federal funding to develop the National Consortium:
Will McNamara
Principal Investigator
Sandia National Laboratories
Will McNamara is the Principal Investigator for the Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) National Consortium, representing Sandia National Laboratories as the lead lab for this effort. He also leads the Policy & Regulations Tiger Team for the National Consortium.
Will serves as Grid Energy Storage Policy Analyst for Sandia National Laboratories with a focus on energy storage policy development at the federal and state levels. Will has spent his entire 30-year career in the energy and utilities industry with a concentration on regulatory and legislative policy. He has served as a lobbyist in California and has represented major utilities across the U.S. in numerous jurisdictions in proceedings pertaining to integrated resource planning, procurement, cost recovery, rate design, and the development of policymaking best practices. Will’s areas of subject matter expertise, in addition to LDES policy, include distributed energy resources, AMI/smart grid, renewables, and competitive retail markets.
Kailey Fascitelli
Business Development Partner
Sandia National Laboratories
The Business Development Partner will aid in recruiting and communicating with Teaming Partners; lead the production of accessible communication materials; support outreach events; and lead the Stakeholder Engagement Group.
Since 2018, Kailey Fascitelli, Technical Business Development Specialist, has been partnering with Sandia National Laboratories’ Grid Modernization and Energy Storage Program leadership to create and implement strategic plans, manage winning proposal submissions, and develop customer relationships through marketing/messaging and event coordination. In her role, she partners with management and technical staff to lead the development of strategies that identify high priority program development opportunities and drive internal investment decisions. Kailey manages the creation and submission of competitive proposals to key sponsors, having submitted 300+ proposals to date. In addition, she leads efforts to facilitate customer and partner engagements through site visits, conference organization, discovery and outreach, and development of outreach materials. Kailey holds a B.S. in Population Health and Psychology and an M.B.A. with concentrations in Strategic Management/Policy and Human Resources/Organizational Behavior, both from the University of New Mexico.
Patrick Balducci
Argonne National Laboratories (ANL)
Patrick Balducci is the Manager of the Power Systems and Markets Research Group in the Center for Energy, Environmental, and Economic Systems Analysis at Argonne National Laboratory. At Argonne, he also serves as the Lab Relationship Manager over the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Renewable Power Programs and the DOE Office of Electricity Energy Storage Program. Prior to joining Argonne, Patrick served as a Chief Economist at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) where he served for nearly 20 years. At PNNL, he led the energy storage analytics team where his research focused on storage valuation, integration, performance characterization, and control systems. Mr. Balducci has led research efforts evaluating the benefits of energy storage at 19 sites across the U.S. with combined power and energy capacities of 3.4 GW and 51 GWh, respectively, and leads efforts to enhance economic assessment tools for DOE. He holds a BS in Economics from Lewis and Clark College, where he graduated with honors, and an MSc in Applied Environmental Economics from the University of London, Imperial College of London.
Torrey Lyons
Idaho National Laboratories (INL)
Torrey Lyons is a social scientist focusing on how transportation and energy decisions affect people, the environment, and economies. He is a research scientist in the Mobility Analytics group at the Idaho National Laboratory. He recently completed a detail to the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation where he worked on equity and tribal engagement. Dr. Lyons has published articles on transportation outcomes associated with compact development, improvements to travel demand modeling, and the economic effects of transit service, among other topics. He has taught research methods for urban planners, land use and transportation planning, program and policy evaluation, and urban economics in the US and abroad. Prior to joining the Idaho National Laboratory and the Joint Office, Dr. Lyons worked in consulting and academia.
Zhiwen Ma
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
Dr. Zhiwen Ma is a senior engineer in the Thermal Sciences R&D Group at National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). He received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology (2000) and a M.S.M.E. degree from the University of Akron (1996). He was Test and Modeling Engineer at FuelCell Energy for six years since 2001 and worked at General Electric (GE) Aviation before joining NREL in 2009. His research focuses on particle thermal energy storage (TES), hydrogen production, and concentrating solar thermal power. Zhiwen is leading the research projects on long duration energy storage (LDES) using particle-based thermal energy storage, thermal and electrochemical modeling for electrolysis technology development, and solar fuel production. His research works on energy storage, solar receiver, advanced supercritical carbon dioxide power cycle, thermal and electrochemical modeling have been applied in Generation 3 concentrating solar power, solar fuel and hydrogen production. He has expertise in modeling and testing of particle TES, renewable solution and system development, component performance and cost analysis. He served as an associated editor for Frontier in Energy Research, has published over 80 papers, numerous technical reports, two book chapters, and was awarded fourteen patents.
Jeremy Twitchell
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
Jeremy Twitchell is a senior energy analyst at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, where he leads PNNL’s work on the Equitable Regulatory Environment thrust area of the Department of Energy – Office of Electricity’s Energy Storage Program. His research focuses on identifying the regulatory barriers that impede the deployment of energy storage technologies and best practices for reducing or eliminating those barriers, as well as providing technical assistance to states on energy storage-related topics. He also supports other efforts at the lab in areas related to grid planning, utility regulation, rate design, and energy system equity. Prior to joining PNNL, Jeremy spent five years at the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission.
Hope Corsair
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
Dr. Hope J. Corsair is a Grid Energy Economist in the Electrification & Energy Infrastructure Division at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. She specializes in cross-disciplinary and interdisciplinary work at the technical, social, economic, and environmental nexus of our rapidly changing energy landscape. Her work focuses on electric grid resilience, hydroelectric power-grid interaction, and community-scale energy solutions. Energy justice is a cornerstone of her work. Prior to joining ORNL, Dr. Corsair was a faculty member in Electrical Engineering & Renewable Energy at the Oregon Institute of Technology, and worked in resource planning and energy systems modeling in the electric power industry. She earned her PhD from Johns Hopkins University.
Seven positions on the Leadership Team are held by individuals from current Teaming Partners in the LDES National Consortium. The Teaming Partner positions on the Leadership Team will be determined yearly through a nomination process open to the entire population of official Teaming Partners. The following individuals serve as the Industry Leadership Team for 2025.
Fouad Dagher
National Grid
Director, Clean Energy Development at National Grid USA. Over the years Fouad’s responsibilities consist of identifying and developing clean and innovative energy solutions for National Grid customers. Area of focus include energy storage, renewables, micro-grids, electrification of transportation, and energy efficiency. Previous roles assumed: Head of US Innovation for National Grid Partners focusing on distributive innovation, Lead Director of National Grid’s REV demonstration in NY, National Grid’s Program Developer of renewable and storage in Massachusetts, Head of Development for National Grid’s first network of electric vehicles charging stations in MA, NY, and RI, and other various managerial and engineering positions within National Grid. Education: Advanced Certificate for Executives in Strategy, Innovation and Management – MIT; Certificate in Design Thinking for Innovators – Stanford University; BS, MS, and post graduate education in engineering and management. Appointed by MA Governor to the MA ZEV Commission, member of New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium Board of Directors and a member of the Policy Leadership Circle. Adjunct Professor at Lasell University in Newton, MA. Fouad is a Registered Professional Engineer in multiple states.
Seyi Fabode
RWE Clean Energy
Seyi Fabode is a Director on the Cleantech Innovation team at RWE, where he develops and executes strategies to improve operations and grow the business through innovation. His 20 years of global experience across three continents informs his insights into tech trends, risks, and opportunities in renewables, utilities, and cities. Seyi’s entrepreneurial journey includes founding Varuna, a water IoT and risk management solution, and establishing, scaling, and selling Power2Switch, a venture-backed energy tech firm. At Clean Energy Trust (2014-2015), he made investments that propelled leading decarbonization and energy transition companies. Seyi’s utility experience includes leading operations and plant analysis for a 1000 MW Combined Cycle Gas Plant in London. Recognized as a LinkedIn Global Top Voice in Technology in multiple years, Fabode is a trusted expert for investors and early stage companies in the city, infrastructure, and utility sectors.
Fabode holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, an MSc in Manufacturing Systems Engineering from Warwick University UK and a BEng in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering from FUTA. Seyi has authored books and also writes for UtiliCity, a digital publication focused on cities and innovation. He is currently working on his next book ‘How To (Re)Build A City’.
Joseph Ferrari
Mainspring Energy, Inc.
Joe Ferrari is the Director of Utility Business Development at Mainspring Energy, Inc. Joe is a power systems specialist with 20 years of experience at leading power and energy storage companies including Energy Dome, Wartsila and MAN Energy Solutions, focusing on least-cost pathways towards decarbonization. He has an MS in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Cincinnati and an MS in Natural Resource Science from the University of Maryland, where he also worked as a research scientist. Joe has published a number of papers and articles across a variety of disciplines, as well as a book “Electric Utility Resource Planning: Past, Present and Future”.
Huiyi Jackson
Edison Electric Institute
Dr. Huiyi Jackson currently serves as the Senior Director of Clean Energy
Technologies and Policy at the Edison Electric Institute. In this role, she
provides strategic oversight of research, analytics, and policy development
related to clean energy technologies, including hydrogen, carbon capture
utilization and storage, advanced nuclear, energy storage, and renewable
energy sources. Dr. Jackson leads a team of clean energy analysts and
collaborates with industry stakeholders to formulate strategies that advance the commercialization and deployment of clean energy solutions, with a particular focus on grid decarbonization. She also co-chairs the Advanced Renewables – Non-Geothermal and Advanced Storage and Efficiency Workgroups for the Carbon Free Technology Initiative, driving key initiatives for carbon-free energy advancements.
Ralph Masiello
Quanta
Ralph D. Masiello received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Electrical Engineering where he worked on the very early applications of modern control and estimation theory to electric power systems and the developments of the first state estimators for transmission operations. He also led the teams that developed the first utility dispatcher training simulators and he led the organization that developed the early commercial ISO systems for market and reliability operations. He chaired the US DOE Energy Advisory Committee Storage Subcommittee 2009-2013 and has been responsible for the development of analytical solutions for applying energy storage to wholesale, transmission, and distribution applications. He performed early work for the CPUC, CEC, and CA ISO on storage in markets, planning, and operations. Dr. Masiello is a Life Fellow of the IEEE and has served as Chairman, Power System Engineering. He served on the US Department of Energy “Energy Advisory Committee” 2008-2013 and chaired its Storage subcommittee 2009-2013. He is the recipient of the 2009 IEEE Power Engineering Concordia award for Power System Engineering. Dr. Masiello is a member of the National Academy of Engineering.
Bret Raymis
PWRJOULE
At PWRJOULE, our patented magnetic flow battery technology is paving the way for groundbreaking advancements in renewable energy storage. Bret Raymis’s role as CEO encompasses leading the team and strategic investor engagements to fuel our growth and innovation. With a robust background in electronics and analog semiconductors, Bret’s focus is on new business development and bringing transformative solutions to the market.
Previously, as a Senior Layout Engineer at multiple Fortune 100 Semiconductor companies, Bret spearheaded semiconductor integrated layout designs, leveraging access to leading-edge CAD tools. This experience fortified his expertise in semiconductor design, directly contributing to our mission at PWRJOULE. We are committed to addressing climate change by enhancing energy transition technologies.
Navneet Trivedi
Vrinda Inc.
Navneet is a thought leader, energy realist, and trusted advisor with over 33 years of experience in the Energy and Utility industry and clean energy transformation. Navneet brings a unique perspective of hands-on experience working in eight countries with over 100+ electric utilities and technology companies covering North America, South America, and Asia. Navneet works with C-level executives, policymakers, regulators, and technology providers to address the complex question of enabling Utility of the Future with sustainable, clean, and innovative energy technologies through business model innovation that provides the right value to all stakeholders.
Navneet Co-Founded Vrinda, a New York-based boutique consulting firm focused on the Energy, Utility, and Transportation sectors. Navneet is helping several US utilities and ISOs with key energy transition questions, including adopting energy storage solutions, transportation electrification, building decarbonization, and transitioning utilities from electricity to energy services providers. The main focus of Navneet’s work is to create sustainable business and operating models to ensure energy transition is a business value to the industry.
Navneet is an electrical engineer who graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, with an M.S. in Energy Systems and Business certification from Columbia University in New York, with a focus on corporate finance and valuation.
