Team

World-class expertise across the full fusion energy ecosystem

The top scientific and engineering minds using proven technologies to unlock fusion power at commercial scale.

Scott Mercer

CEO

Founded and led Volta Charging from startup to IPO—an international, vertically integrated energy infrastructure company.

Thomas Forner

Co-Founder & President

20+ years experience as CEO/CFO and an expert in developing & leading international high-tech companies.

Markus Roth

Dr. Markus Roth

Co-Founder & Chief Science Officer

Professor at TU Darmstadt and an APS Fellow with 25+ years experience in fusion research.

Pravesh Patel

Dr. Pravesh Patel

CTO

With 23 years at LLNL, held key leadership roles including Inertial Confinement Fusion Associate Program Leader and Fast Ignition Program Leader.

Chris Wendel

CFO

Over 20 years in investment banking and 10 years in energy startups, with extensive expertise in finance and entrepreneurship driving growth in dynamic industries.

Debbie Callahan

Dr. Debbie Callahan

Target Design Lead

With 35 years at LLNL, served as Co-Leader of the NIF Ignition Campaign and leader of the ICF Design Physics Division, playing a pivotal role in advancing fusion research and design.

Wolfgang Theobald

Dr. Wolfgang Theobald

Experimental Lead

With 19 years at LLE, served as Experiments Group Leader and Fast Ignition and Shock Ignition Program Leader. Recipient of the prestigious Landau & Spitzer Award.

Stefano Atzeni

Dr. Stefano Atzeni

IFE Theory Lead

A world-renowned theoretical expert on Inertial Confinement Fusion, and author of the leading book on the subject. A former professor at the University of Rome.

Jose Manuel Perlado

Dr. Jose Manuel Perlado

Reactor Design Lead

A professor and Director of the Instituto de Fusión Nuclear at Polytechnic University of Madrid, Spain, former reactor chamber design lead for the HiPER project, and a world expert in fusion materials and chamber design.

Dr. Jim Gaffney

Simulations Lead

Uncertainty Quantification and Optimization Group Leader at LLNL, led developed of ICF simulation machine learning methods during the Ignition Campaign and continues to lead efforts in digital twin modeling.

Doug Hammond

Laser Engineering Lead

Extensive experience in the development of high-energy laser systems including actively-cooled disk amplifiers.

Dr. Gabriel Schaumann

Targetry Lead

Built one of Europe’s leading laser fusion targetry laboratories at TU Darmstadt University.

Adrian McFarland

Engineering Lead

Extensive expertise in fusion engineering and system integration. Former Head of Electrical Engineering at Tokamak Energy.

Gilles Chériaux

Laser R&D Lead

Expert in high-energy laser design and developed IP for FE liquid-cooled amplifier lasers.

The Future is Fusion

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