Steffan Lyson
The Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy holds a mandate of investing in disruptive ideas and early innovators in the energy sector. The agency procures contracts and collaborates with private companies to develop modern strategies for energy generation, storage, and usage.
Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA–E)’s Leaders, Founders, & Execs: Who Are They?
Get to know Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA–E) ‘s leaders, founders, and executives.
Dr. Evelyn N. Wang, Director
Dr. Evelyn Wang leads the launch and execution of advanced high-risk, high-reward energy research and development programs as the Director of Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy. She boasts more than two decades of comprehensive experience as a researcher, with a strong focus on telecommunications, mechanical engineering, and energy.
Before joining ARPA–E, Wang held increasing responsibilities at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In her 15-year tenure at MIT’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, she contributed to studying thermal management, thermal energy technologies, and water harvesting. Earlier in her career, Wang was a postdoctoral researcher at Bell Laboratories, Alcatel-Lucent.
Shane Kosinski, Deputy Director for Operations
As the Deputy Director for Operations at Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy, Shane Kosinski oversees management operations and processes for over 300 active missions. He has been credited for ARPA-E’s establishment as a new entity under the Department of Energy, organizing the agency’s structure and managing an initial budget of $400 million.
Aside from heading the operations of ARPA-E’s missions and programs, Kosinski also assumes the position of Head of Contracting Authority. In this capacity, he holds diverse responsibilities in establishing and staffing a new procurement office within the agency. He has been with ARPA-E since 2009 and is named the agency’s first employee.
Dr. David Tew, Acting Deputy Director for Technology
Dr. David Tew is the Acting Deputy Director for Technology at Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy. The technical focus of his nearly three decades revolves around fuel efficiency and generation, combined heat and power systems, industrial decarbonization, and transportation energy efficiency. Dr. Tew has held this position since February 2023 after serving as the Program Director for over six years.
For over 19 years of his career, Dr. Tew held a variety of roles for different divisions of United Technologies Corporation (UTC). His significant contributions to the company include developing the Research Center’s advanced power generation, managing UTC Power’s heat and product line, and leading Pratt & Whitney’s technology group portfolio.
Dr. Daniel Cunningham, Acting Deputy Director for Commercialization
Dr. Daniel Cunningham joined Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy as the Acting Deputy Director for Commercialization in 2015. He is responsible for commanding the transition of innovative energy technologies from the laboratory to the commercial market. In addition, Dr. Cunningham is in charge of the agency’s SCALEUP Program, which helps U.S. companies in their clean energy efforts.
Dr. Cunningham’s over 35 years of portfolio in the energy sector landed him many prestigious awards, including the Research Partnership Award from the Department of Energy in 2001. He has also authored over 50 publications and has 12 patent publications on semiconductor crystal growth, PV module packing, electrochemistry, emerging technologies, and other related studies.
Dr. Isik C. Kizilyalli, Associate Director for Technology & Program Director
Dr. Isik C. Kizilyalli is an innovative energy technology leader with a proven track record in industrial research and development in power generation, transportation, and transmission. He has served as Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy’s Program Director since January 2016 and Associate Director for Technology since October 2020.
As the Associate Director for Technology & Program Director, Dr. Kizilyalli supports the Deputy Director for Technology in overseeing technical program management and business development opportunities in innovative energy technologies. His role’s key focus areas encompass power electronics, wide bandgap semiconductors, and other similar technologies.
About ARPA–E
The Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy is tasked to conduct federal investments in innovative energy technologies. The agency was formed as a separate office from the Department of Energy on April 27, 2009, with a duty to find solutions to the most pressing challenges related to science and technology in the United States.
For the first six months of ARPA–E’s creation, former deputy director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Arun Majumdar, served as the agency’s first director. He handled ARPA–E‘s early appropriations of $400 million to fund the first research and development projects involving government labs, private industry, and universities.
