Tom Griffin

Chief Engineering Officer

2024

Chief Innovation Officer

2022 - 2024

Infinium offers an electrofuels solution to decarbonize the transportation sector using today’s infrastructure. Infinium’s Electrofuels™ are ultra low carbon alternatives to existing liquid fuels that can immediately “drop in” and be used in plane, ship and truck fleets. For more information, visit www.infiniumco.com.

Managing Director

2018 - 2022

Team Leader for BEV's Manufacturing Sector activities; Board Director for BEV portfolio companies: Verdox (Woburn, MA); C-Zero (Santa Barbara, CA); Obantarla (Welcome, NC); Rondo Energy (Oakland, CA). The goal of Breakthrough Energy is to make sure that everyone on the planet can enjoy a good standard of living, including basic electricity, healthy food, comfortable buildings, and convenient transportation, without contributing to climate change. Our strategy links cutting-edge research to patient, risk-tolerant capital so that more clean energy innovations get to market faster. The Breakthrough Energy Coalition created Breakthrough Energy Ventures, an investor-led fund, to build the new, cutting-edge companies that will deliver on that promise. Like the Coalition, the Fund brings together individuals with the capital, the commitment, and the relationships to navigate the exceptionally complex process of developing and deploying breakthrough energy technologies.

Vice President - Bioprocess Engineering

2015 - 2018

Providing technology development and engineering leadership as part of Reliance's initiatives in renewables - with core focus on the scale-up of technologies for algae to fuels, chemicals, and biomass products. Overseeing fundamental efforts in cultivation engineering, separations processing, product recovery, and solar and water resource optimization - as well as intellectual property generation and maintenance in these areas. Leading efforts in techno-economic analyses and its linkages to risk management and resource deployment strategies. Overseeing data management strategies and computational science advances.

Chief Technology Officer (CTO); previously VP-Technology

2010 - 2015

Technology development leadership for Edeniq's advanced corn-based and cellulosic biofuels initiatives. Oversight responsibility for all efforts in R&D, Research Operations, Process Synthesis, and Engineering. Front line technology relationship leader with commercial customers and operating partners. Company officer and frequent contributor to Board and investor communications. Develop and maintain key external strategic technology-based relationships, including Edeniq's Science and Technology Advisory Board. Lead the ongoing specification, prosecution, and expansion of Edeniq's intellectual property portfolio.

Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

2007 - 2011

Conceived of PST to target advanced biofuel process development, based on integration of existing bioprocesses, cellulosic gasification, catalytic reforming, and coupled separations/ reaction engineering. Incorporated as LLC and developed partnerships for private support, government liaison, university R&D collaboration, and state-level (PA) incubator membership. PST developed and patented a process to produce 'advanced' and 'cellulosic' biofuels (as defined by RFS2) from inedible biomass and other waste materials. The process leverages existing grain-based ethanol operations and established infrastructure to drive adoption and reduce costs of implementation. The company was awarded both State and Federal grants and developed several critical relationships and alliances within the biofuels industry. PST was acquired by Logos Technologies in March 2011.

Technology Team Leader/ Sr. Research Associate

1997 - 2007

Provided technology leadership and coordination for major process and product development and deployment efforts in three distinct areas: inorganic products, photovoltaics (systems and materials), and biofuels. Team leadership integrated all technical aspects of these programs: basic science, engineering R&D, piloting, engineering, identification and pursuit of key development and deployment partnerships, intellectual property development, and scale-up and commercial pathway conceptualization. Developed and maintained necessary liaisons within the Business Units of DuPont, as well as with strategic external resources. Also led interdepartmental opportunity assessment task force in alternative energy systems and products. Collaborated with business development colleagues to assess opportunities in this space for the Company, with emphases on photovoltaics and biofuels. Biofuels Process Synthesis: commercial scale-up planning; process synthesis and development; integration of bioprocesses and established thermochemical process options; project and process engineering liaison. Led and coordinated a three-company engineering effort (DuPont, BP, and Associated British Foods) to specify project parameters and EPC liaisons for first-generation ethanol production, as well as engineering compatability assessment of conversion to higher alcohol production service.

Managing Director - Experimental Systems

1991 - 1997

Directed pilot- and bench-scale development of MMT’s waste-to-energy processes at both locations. Provided strategic steering, detailed technical direction, and operational administration in the development of process and equipment concepts. Led and integrated complex multidisciplinary studies, including both “exploratory” and “development” components. Recruited and led a combined research staff of over 50 investigators; developed and managed an integrated research budget of approximately $13 million. Provided direction and oversight for experimental safety performance. Devised and implemented methods for documentation and dissemination of experimental findings and implications; responsible for technology transfer to Design and Operations organizations. Technical leader for applications development work sponsored by the US Department of Energy. Worked with regulatory staff, and state personnel (MA) to define and establish operations permitting compliance parameters. Collaborated with Sales and Marketing staff for development of specific industrial customer applications.

Associate Research Engineer - Shell Development Company

1989 - 1991

Planned, directed, and interpreted pilot and bench-scale experimental investigations for Shell processes, particularly coal gasification and combustion. Contributed to experimentally-based operability determinations of the Shell Coal Gasification Process for customer operating scenarios. Performed reaction engineering studies of chemical processes, including reaction kinetics, thermodynamics, and heat and mass transfer. Appointed as Directorate Safety Coordinator (collateral function).

Military Service (active duty)

1982 - 1986

Commissioned Officer; Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program Served onboard USS ARKANSAS (CGN-41); directed operations of shipboard nuclear power facilities. As Chem-Radcon Assistant (CRA) and Laboratory Division Officer, served as ship’s Principal Assistant in supervision and reporting of nuclear plant water chemistry and radiological controls. As Electrical Division Officer, was responsible for operation and maintenance of all propulsion and topside electrical equipment. Achieved the rank of Lieutenant, USN (O-3). Recipient of Navy Commendation Medal and Navy Achievement Medal.