Mike Campbell – Chairman of the Executive Advisory Board for Laser and Nuclear Technologies
Throughout his 40-year career, Mr. Campbell has held various scientific and leadership positions across both federal laboratories and the private sector, including notable roles at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where he originated the National Ignition Facility, General Atomics, Logos Technologies, and Sandia National Laboratory.
A Fellow of the American Physical Society and Optica (formerly OSA), Mr. Campbell has published over 250 articles in scientific journals and holds three patents. His contributions to the field have earned him numerous prestigious awards, including the Department of Energy’s E. O. Lawrence Award, the American Nuclear Society’s Edward Teller Award, the American Physical Society’s John Dawson Award, the Department of Energy’s Excellence in Weapons Research Award, and the Leadership Award of Fusion Power Associates.
Professor David Neil Ruzic, – Chairman of the Executive Advisory Board for Plasma and Nuclear Technologies
David N. Ruzic is an Abel Bliss Professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, within the Department of Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering. With over three decades of experience in academia and research, Prof. Ruzic has made significant contributions to plasma-material interactions and fusion technology.
He was awarded the AVS Plasma Prize for Outstanding Work in Plasma Science and Technology in 2012 and has published over 220 peer-reviewed journal papers, two books, and six book chapters. Prof. Ruzic holds ten patents and is a well-known science celebrity, with his educational YouTube videos garnering over 8.2 million views. He earned his Ph.D. in Physics from Princeton University and completed post-doctoral research at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory.
Prof. Ruzic is a Fellow of the American Nuclear Society, the American Vacuum Society, the American Physical Society, and SPIE (Society for Optics and Photonic Engineering).
John M. Shimkus – Chair of Energy Policy
Mr. Shimkus, a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, began his career as an Army officer before transitioning to public service. Over his 24 years in Congress, he became a key figure in energy policy, particularly as a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, where he served as Chairman and later as Republican Leader of its Environment and Climate Change Subcommittee. Additionally, he represented the United States in the NATO Parliamentary Assembly from 2001 to 2014 and was reappointed to the role by Speaker Paul Ryan in 2017.
Throughout his congressional career, Mr. Shimkus played a significant role in shaping U.S. energy policy, strongly advocating for nuclear energy and backing efforts to enhance the nation’s infrastructure and environmental regulations. Following his retirement from Congress, he joined KBS Group as a senior advisor, providing expertise in policy and government relations. His numerous achievements have earned him global recognition, including the 2005 Truman-Reagan Medal of Freedom, the Grand Cross of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas, and the Order of the Three Stars from Latvia.
Junaid Razvi Ph.D. – Senior Advisor in Nuclear Energy
During his tenure at General Atomics (GA), Dr. Razvi played a pivotal role in advanced nuclear fission programs. He spearheaded initiatives to develop intellectual property and establish domestic production of critical medical radioisotopes, earning recognition from the U.S. Congress and the Department of Energy. Additionally, Dr. Razvi directed GA’s global activities for its TRIGA® reactor facilities, overseeing installations in 23 nations, and managed GA’s nuclear facilities, including research reactor operations and nuclear fuel manufacturing.
Dr. Razvi holds a Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering from Kansas State University, a Master’s in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Washington, and a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts with a focus on Physics and Mathematics from Wabash College, Indiana.
Dr. Razvi also managed a U.S.-Russia collaboration to develop advanced modular GEN-IV gas-cooled reactor technology, ensuring compliance with bilateral treaties for plutonium disposal from dismantled nuclear weapons. Furthermore, Dr. Razvi contributed to developing solutions for the safe transport of used nuclear fuel.
Tom Blees – Head of Corporate Initiatives
Tom Blees is the President of the Science Council for Global Initiatives (SCGI), an international NGO that includes climatologists, scientists, and engineers involved in cutting-edge energy systems and climate research. In his professional history, Mr. Blees has acted as a consultant and energy systems advisor to private industry and governments from the local to the international level.
Mr. Blees is also on the board of The World Energy Forum, a UN- & World Bank-affiliated organization and a member of the selection committee for the Global Energy Prize, considered Russia’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize for energy research.
Author of the book “Prescription for the Planet – The Painless Remedy for Our Energy & Environmental Crisis”, he is actively involved in encouraging and coordinating high level international cooperation on advanced nuclear power system and fuel cycle projects with the USA, Russia, South Korea, Japan, China, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and other countries.