NREL's long-term strategy includes increasing partnerships and market impact. During Farris' time at NREL, the laboratory has contracted with partners for research that has reached $1 billion in agreement value. Under his leadership, NREL has executed high-impact partnership agreements with more than 900 active partners, including prominent companies in all segments of the energy industry. His partnership portfolio includes start-ups, large commercial entities, state, federal and international… Show more NREL's long-term strategy includes increasing partnerships and market impact. During Farris' time at NREL, the laboratory has contracted with partners for research that has reached $1 billion in agreement value. Under his leadership, NREL has executed high-impact partnership agreements with more than 900 active partners, including prominent companies in all segments of the energy industry. His partnership portfolio includes start-ups, large commercial entities, state, federal and international governments and domestic and foreign philanthropic foundations. As a result of Farris' partnership efforts, NREL has grown to be the engine for collaboration within the national lab system.Farris also oversees all licensing, sponsored research agreements, enterprise development, and innovation management functions at NREL. NREL has been a leader in improving partner access to the lab’s unique research capabilities, which has included retooling contracting mechanisms and approaches. These approaches for increased access have directly benefited DOE, NREL and its collaborators, and the broader DOE lab system. Farris led the development of a privately funded technology transfer program and a revolutionary private contracting framework that is the model for the DOE system. Entrepreneurship, start-up, and technology incubation have been priorities for Farris in his time at NREL. More than 500 technology-based, start-up companies have benefited from interactions with NREL, and these companies have raised more than $8 billion in private sector funding. Show less

Led NREL’s efforts to accelerate commercialization and the transfer of laboratory technologies to the marketplace. Initiatives included the establishment of The Colorado Center for Renewable Energy and Economic Development (CREED) which seeks to catalyze the expansion of the renewable energy economic cluster in Colorado and beyond, the creation of a clearinghouse for intellectual property developed at the nation’s National Laboratories and the streamlining of NREL’s transaction processes for… Show more Led NREL’s efforts to accelerate commercialization and the transfer of laboratory technologies to the marketplace. Initiatives included the establishment of The Colorado Center for Renewable Energy and Economic Development (CREED) which seeks to catalyze the expansion of the renewable energy economic cluster in Colorado and beyond, the creation of a clearinghouse for intellectual property developed at the nation’s National Laboratories and the streamlining of NREL’s transaction processes for licenses and sponsored research agreements. Show less

Responsible for commercialization of electronics, sensors and national security technologies from Battelle’s Pacific Northwest Division and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Job duties include the management of new intellectual property, the stewardship of existing intellectual properties and licensing agreements, and the development of new industrial relationships and technology licenses. Mr. Farris is also responsible for new venture activities at the Pacific Northwest Division and… Show more Responsible for commercialization of electronics, sensors and national security technologies from Battelle’s Pacific Northwest Division and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Job duties include the management of new intellectual property, the stewardship of existing intellectual properties and licensing agreements, and the development of new industrial relationships and technology licenses. Mr. Farris is also responsible for new venture activities at the Pacific Northwest Division and is a primary point of contact for interactions with Venture Capitalists including Battelle Ventures. Show less

Responsible for the Economic Development, Business and Competitive Intelligence, and Alternative Commercial Relationships offices at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. These three offices contribute directly to the focus of the Commercial Partnerships Directorate of leveraging the intellectual assets of the Lab in a way that generates additional value for Battelle, PNNL and the Department of Energy. A primary objective of this organization was the cultivation of new business… Show more Responsible for the Economic Development, Business and Competitive Intelligence, and Alternative Commercial Relationships offices at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. These three offices contribute directly to the focus of the Commercial Partnerships Directorate of leveraging the intellectual assets of the Lab in a way that generates additional value for Battelle, PNNL and the Department of Energy. A primary objective of this organization was the cultivation of new business opportunities that leverage economic development, technology licensing and industrial contract research. During 2005 and 2006, Mr. Farris was also responsible for the Office of Fellowship Programs and Science and Engineering Education Programs. Show less

Responsible for the identification, evaluation, and assessment of intellectual property generated by the scientific and engineering staff of Battelle’s Pacific Northwest Division and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Responsibilities included the supervision of ten senior staff including Commercialization Managers, analysis staff, and associated support staff. Mr. Farris was responsibility for all activities associated with providing intellectual property analysis and support… Show more Responsible for the identification, evaluation, and assessment of intellectual property generated by the scientific and engineering staff of Battelle’s Pacific Northwest Division and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Responsibilities included the supervision of ten senior staff including Commercialization Managers, analysis staff, and associated support staff. Mr. Farris was responsibility for all activities associated with providing intellectual property analysis and support systems within PNNL. He managed the assessment and disposition of 250 to 300 new invention disclosures per year in addition to the maintenance of over 600 existing active patents. Mr. Farris was responsible for the Independent Research and Development investment program. He managed the development, selection and execution of over $4.5 million in technology development projects designed to generate intellectual property and attract industry funding to Battelle. Show less

Responsible for the management of intellectual property from the Environmental Technology Division. Co-Managed the Division Seed LDRD investment program. Developed the intellectual property management system for the division that eventually became the model for other divisions at the Pacific Northwest Division.

Technical group leader for forty-two environmental scientists; responsible for technical products, marketing/business development, and staff development. Acted as the leader of the Risk and Safety Analysis Core Technical Capability (CTC) Area; responsibilities included long range technical capability development, review of laboratory level LDRD Initiatives, and coordination of CTC support to PNNL Product Lines. Manager of the Integrated Risk Assessment Program; responsible for the production… Show more Technical group leader for forty-two environmental scientists; responsible for technical products, marketing/business development, and staff development. Acted as the leader of the Risk and Safety Analysis Core Technical Capability (CTC) Area; responsibilities included long range technical capability development, review of laboratory level LDRD Initiatives, and coordination of CTC support to PNNL Product Lines. Manager of the Integrated Risk Assessment Program; responsible for the production of technical information to support Hanford Site strategic planning including risk-based decision making, site work scope prioritization, and budget submissions. Program Manager for the Hanford Environmental Dose Reconstruction project. Responsible for the completion and close-out of this multi-year project. The objective of the $25M project was to estimate the radiation doses that individuals could have received from nuclear operations at Hanford since 1944. Mr. Farris is responsible for the technical work being performed by 80 contributing staff. Other responsibilities include management of project deliverables and budget and interaction with the project, client and the public. Show less

Served as a health physicist specializing in the assessment of impacts of radioactive and hazardous waste disposal and environmental restoration. Experience included human health assessments pertaining to radioactive, hazardous chemical and mixed wastes.

Responsible for the management of a ten person multidisciplinary environmental sciences group. Provided management and technical oversight of a variety of environmental engineering projects for industrial and government clients.

Served as project manager and technical contributor for environmental assessment projects for government and private clients. Managed numerous projects for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regions 9 and 10. These projects involved coordinating the oversight activities for permit reviews and site assessment and cleanup activities at both federal and private Superfund sites.

Managed numerous environmental impact assessment project involving regulatory analysis, hydrology, and environmental health assessments. Provided impact assessments for sites such as Hanford and the Three-Mile Island nuclear power plant. Provided technical input to national regulatory programs and a variety of National Environmental Policy Act documents.

Research fellow assigned to the Environmental Health Physics Group. Research concentration included environmental impacts resulting from current and historic waste management activities at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation