Alumni Board

Blair P. Bromley
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories
I am a nuclear engineering scientist working as reactor physicist.  I am involved in the conceptual design and assessment of advanced and alternative fuels and fuel cycles for a variety of reactor technologies.  I also have some involvement in space reactors, micro-reactors, fusion, and ADS.

Stephen Coggeshall
Los Alamos National LaboratoryAfter graduating from the University of Illinois, I spent 11 years at Los Alamos National Laboratory, including a year at the Max Planck Institute in Munich. My primary research focused on laser fusion, though I also published work in Lie group theory based on studies with Prof. Axford. Following my sabbatical in Germany, I transitioned into artificial intelligence, with a particular emphasis on machine learning.  Finding this work especially impactful, I co-founded a series of three private companies applying machine learning to solve real-world business problems. Each company was subsequently acquired, the last by LifeLock/Symantec, where I served as Chief Scientist until my retirement in 2017.  Since 2016, I have taught part-time in graduate business programs at USC, UC San Diego, and UCLA. In parallel, I have served as music director and conductor for several organizations, drawing on my University of Illinois master’s degree in music. I now divide my time between St. Louis and San Diego, enjoying retirement and time with my grandchildren.

Christopher Demetriou
Constellation
Manager of Safety Analysis in the Nuclear Fuels Department at Constellation.

Lauren M. Garrison
Commonwealth Fusion Systems
Dr. Garrison researches and develops materials for fusion power plants.  Her expertise is especially in neutron radiation effects on materials.  She has expertise in all types of materials for fusion devices with a particular focus on plasma facing materials, structural materials, and shield materials.

Mike Giacobbe

Willis Towers Watson
I am the Chief Commercial Officer for Willis in North America.

Doug Hayden
Exceleration Studio
I'm winding up my involvement with this startup, and looking to rejoin the semiconductor capital equipment space, or possibly help sell modular nuclear fission reactors.

John F. Kotek
Nuclear Energy Institute
John is currently the Senior Vice President for Policy and Public Affairs at the Nuclear Energy Institute. He also serves as President of Nuclear Matters, a grassroots coalition of nuclear energy advocates. From 2015-2017, John served as Acting Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy in the US Department of Energy. He was Staff Director to the Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future, which in 2012 recommended a new strategy for the U.S. nuclear waste management program.  John has also served as the American Nuclear Society's Congressional fellow, an R&D program manager at Argonne National Laboratory-West in Idaho, and as a public affairs consultant. He began his career with the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy. John holds a B.S. in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Illinois and an MBA from the University of Maryland.

Deborah Laughton
McAndrews, Held & Malloy

Deborah is a Shareholder and General Counsel of McAndrews, Held & Malloy, a full-service intellectual property law firm in Chicago.  She counsels clients in a wide range of intellectual property matters, including patent and trademark portfolio management and prosecution.  She has extensive intellectual property litigation experience and represents clients through all phases of disputes, including pre-suit investigation, fact and expert discovery, summary judgment, trial, post-trial, appeals, and other means of dispute resolution, such as mediation.  She assists clients with intellectual property due diligence investigations, providing intellectual property guidance with corporate transactions.

Ed McVey

Constellation
I am retired but work a few hours per month for a company called Covert Defenses as a consultant on a nuclear physics data code called EDIM (Entropy-based Debiasing Inference Methodology).  It can be utilized in core design and monitoring applications to reduce bias in the actual.versus design calculations.  I spend free time with family, friends, traveling and attending Cubs and Bears sporting events.  I also volunteer for fundraising for ALS and run an ALS Golf Outing for Constellation and ALS United Chicago Chapter.

Martin Neumann
Lam Research

Dr. Neumann is the North America Regional Operations Executive supporting all Lam Research engagements with North America semiconductor manufacturing customers.

Phi Long Nguyen
KASI Consulting
Phi is currently CEO of KASI Consulting,  which consults in all aspects of the semiconductor industry.  Previously, Phi served as VP and Director at Intel Corporation, where he advanced his career from 1990 until his retirement in 2019. With 29 years of leadership experience at Intel, he was responsible for process development, equipment development, fabrication operations, and the transfer of next-generation materials and technologies for Intel's future microprocessors. Additionally, Phi managed the hiring, development, training, integration, and coaching of engineering staff at Intel's R&D facility in Hillsboro, Oregon. He is renowned for cultivating a highly driven, top-tier work culture that is unparalleled. Phi is recognized for his exceptional situational leadership in high-pressure, competitive environments and his ability to build and retain world-class teams. He commands respect and trust from his employees, customers, and suppliers alike. Phi currently also presides over a Scholar Fellowship in honour of his mother, Nguyen Thi Cuong, at the University of Illinois.

Robert F. Penn
Robert Penn Projects & Consulting, LLC
The current assignments include assisting the development of a sodium cooled fast reactor, mentoring, educating, advice & counsel to commercial nuclear power. Member of the American Nuclear Society with achievements. Was a direct member of three nuclear power utilities, then 22 years in service & engineering firm for nuclear power and DOE assignments. Instituted the single member LLC in August 2016 as Senior Staff advisor and consultant in the Civilian and DOE Nuclear Industry.  Joined the DOE national laboratory and became Deputy Division Leader of a large organization. Retired again, and as a Nuclear Engineer and Nuclear Power Professional have continued in regulatory & strategic projects, transition planning & implementation, assessments.  The career included assisting a non-nuclear utility in various aspects such as natural gas transmission, delivery, and projects.

Jason Petti
Sandia National Laboratories
Jason Petti is the Manager of the Solid Mechanics Department in the Structural Mechanics Research & Applications Group at Sandia National Laboratories.  His department conducts structural analyses of various systems through crash, impact, and other severe environments.  He has previously managed departments that support Sandia’s nuclear facilities and the Z Pulsed Power Facility.  Jason currently servers on Sandia’s Nuclear Safety Review Committee and is a Chair for the Sandia Nuclear Criticality Safety Committee.  Jason also leads Sandia’s Recruiting Team for the University of Illinois where he coordinates nearly 30 Illinois alumni that recruit at the university.  Prior to his management positions, Jason had various roles which included time as a Test Director at Sandia’s Rocket Sled Tracks and also a Structural Analyst supporting numerous projects for the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission.  Jason received his BS, MS, and PhD degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.