I spent the first part of my career studying second-generation photovoltaic (PV) devices; primarily hydrogenated amorphous silicon and its alloys at National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). I have authored and coauthored over 90 scientific publications, have more than 500 citations for my research and have given dozens of scientific talks on multiple continents. Currently I manage the Engineering and Informatics group for the Materials and Chemicals Science and Technology directorate at NREL. This is a group of engineers and technicians that build research equipment and keep systems "experiment ready.” This is in support of technologies ranging from photovoltaics (PV) to nano particle generation to fuel cells to batteries. I also have expertise in safety practices in working with hazardous production materials (HPMs). I have also been on the organizing committee for numerous international scientific conferences. Known as an energy wonk and I enjoy giving talks on the bigger energy picture.My core motivation is to improve things that are important to me, especially protecting the environment and helping the poor and disenfranchised. A healthy economy balances profit with concern for both people and the planet… lifting people out of poverty while protecting the environment. Energy is a key enabler of a healthy economy and yet the energy sector is the largest contributor to pollution and anthropogenic climate change. These hidden costs to using fossil fuels are mostly paid by those who are least able to do so. Integral to having clean air and water, growing and distributing food, educating people, fighting disease, and avoiding resource conflicts is a renewable energy economy. While the progress of existing renewable technologies has been spectacular, they won’t take us all the way to a completely sustainable energy economy. We need new technologies and that is why OUR&D is so important; to help fill the first funding "valley of death."