Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has appointed Troy A. Carter as the new head of its Fusion Energy Division, tasked with leading the charge in fusion energy development. Carter, formerly of the University of California, Los Angeles, assumes the role amid a heightened focus on clean energy solutions. Taking the helm from Phil Snyder, who has been the interim director since April 2023, Carter is expected to enhance ORNL's capabilities in plasma physics and materials science, vital components in the advancement of fusion technology, as per Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
In his new position, effective from last Monday, Carter will helm initiatives such as the Materials Plasma Exposure eXperiment (MPEX) and ORNL's contributions to the ITER project, an international collaboration aimed at demonstrating the feasibility of fusion as an energy source. "Troy brings a wealth of fusion energy knowledge and leadership that I am confident will advance the lab’s fusion energy strategy and strengthen ORNL’s status as a world leader in fusion research," Mickey Wade, associate lab director for ORNL’s Fusion and Fission Energy and Science Directorate, said of Carter's appointment, as cited by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Carter's prior experience includes serving as a professor of physics and as director of UCLA's Basic Plasma Science Facility, alongside his role at the Plasma Science and Technology Institute. Notably, he led the Department of Energy Fusion Energy Sciences Advisory Committee's Long Range Planning process, an effort that culminated in the pivotal 2021 report "Powering the Future: Fusion and Plasmas." He has also been recognized by the American Physical Society (APS) as a fellow, and he's received the APS Division of Plasma Physics John Dawson Award for excellence in research.
The leadership change coincides with Snyder shifting to a position where he will engage with the Department of Energy’s Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) program as ORNL's program manager. "I thank Phil for his leadership of ORNL’s Fusion Energy Division. His new role as ORNL program manager for FES programs will enhance ORNL’s ongoing collaboration with federal fusion energy programs and further position ORNL as the leading fusion energy national laboratory," Wade mentioned in his statement regarding the transition, as cited by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Managed by UT-Battelle for the DOE's Office of Science, ORNL continues its commitment to tackling significant scientific challenges. Support for basic research in the physical sciences through the DOE's Office of Science underscores a broader national investment in scientific endeavors aimed at meeting the country's future energy needs.
