Craig Brown Email & Phone Number

Golden, CO

Technical Lead for the Systems Integration Team within the Strategic Energy Analysis Center at NREL. Provides technical leadership to a multi-disciplinary team that provides independent and objective analyses, advice, and planning support to the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Bioenergy Technology Office (BETO). Supports BETO leadership, Program.

New Bern, NC

Provided technical, analysis, and engineering support to BETO. Worked closely with Program Managers, Technology Managers and Lead Analyst at DOE Headquarters and Golden Office, as well as program managers, project managers, and scientists at National Laboratories. Conducted technical assessment and reviews of ongoing and proposed R&D projects, coordination.

New Bern, NC

• Functioned in three roles: 1) provided day-to-day safe operation and maintenance of a large scale, proprietary lignin pilot plant facility, 2) conducted energy system safety and reliability audits across a diverse set.
• Provided critical process performance and scale-up data for commercialization of new lignin technology.
• Zero recordable safety incident rate during pilot plant operation.
• Identified over 100 safety and reliability improvement opportunities at wood products facilities.

New Bern, NC

• Seconded to the Catchlight Energy LLC (CLE) - a biofuels joint venture between Chevron & Weyerhaeuser. Led team that screened and evaluated the technical and commercial potential of biofuels technology pathways..
• Provided technology competitive assessment results that narrowed CLE focus on key biofuels technologies and suppliers.
• Led effort that screened development partners and culminated in a Joint Research Agreement with Iowa State University (ISU).
• Led team that successfully proposed, won, and negotiated a $4,400,000 DOE project.
• Coordinated the transfer of a large pilot plant from Chevron to ISU.
• Key contributor to joint CLE - Chevron evaluation of biomass gasification technologies.

New Bern, NC

Led all biomass thermochemical conversion pathway technology tracking and development activities. This included projects evaluating options for biomass conversion to liquid fuels, biomass to power, and biomass gasification for lime kilns fossil fuel displacement. Served on TAPPI Biorefinery Executive Committee (2008-2011).

New Bern, NC

• Served as Project Director and Principal Investigator on a DOE funded research project "Advancing High Temperature Black Liquor Gasification” (DOE DE-FC26-04NT42259). Managed all technical and administrative aspects of.
• Prepared a successful proposal for the 3-year, $2,100,000 DOE funded project. The proposal ranked highest and was the only fully funded award under the solicitation.
• Negotiated Weyerhaeuser’s first ever DOE prime contract award, four subcontract agreements, and an advance waiver of DOE patent rights.
• Coordinated workflow from a multi-skilled project team consisting of internal Weyerhaeuser resources and four external subcontractors.
• Published a comprehensive report detailing results of the project (see publications list).

New Bern, NC

• Selected as Technical Team Lead on start-up of the first-ever commercial black liquor gasifier in 1997. When the gasifier vessel failed in 2000, assigned as project manager for the rebuild project. Managed all aspects.
• Coordinated numerous projects resulting in gasifier availability improvement from 40% to 95% and contributed to over $120,000,000 in incremental pulp sales.
• Delivered rebuild project on budget and schedule despite significant technical and management hurdles.
• Overcame roadblocks to project success through effective liaison with key stakeholders and customers.
• Led a cross-functional team of internal and external resources that developed and implemented novel solutions to eliminate root cause of vessel failure and extend gasifier refractory lining life from less than 4 months.
• Invited Peer Reviewer - DOE 2nd Annual Black Liquor Gasification Program Review (Oct 2003)

Federal Way, WA

• Provided manufacturing technical support to pulp and paper mills in the areas of chemical recovery and steam and power systems. Conducted facility energy opportunity assessments. Conducted performance assessments of.
• Managed third party thermal pinch studies that identified >$4,000,000/year in practical steam-saving projects at two company pulp mills.
• Improved recovery and power boiler reliability, throughput, and efficiency at several mill sites resulting in significant cost savings and reduced emissions.
• Served as Chairman – Chemical Recovery Program Advisory Board at the Institute of Paper Science & Technology at Georgia Tech (1994-1997)

Appleton, WI

• Invited as an Industrial Research Fellow at the Institute of Paper Chemistry in Appleton, WI. Led an experimental investigation of black liquor char bed burning. The project included design of the test facility.
• Designed a unique test facility to simulate char bed burning environment.
• Published a highly regarded and cited experimental study on char bed burning.

Federal Way, WA

• Supervised pilot testing of a key component in the development of a patented biomass suspension firing system. Applied droplet combustion and trajectory models to improve understanding of recovery boiler fouling.
• Co-inventor on patent to reduce biomass comminution energy (U.S. Patent 4,589,357)
• Developed novel techniques for temperature and gas probing in recovery furnaces.

Master Of Science (M.S.), Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor'S Of Science, Mechanical Engineering, Cum Laude

Activities and Societies: Vice President Tau Beta Pi Honor Society, ASME student chapter