DIII-D Leadership Team
Welcome to the DIII-D National Fusion Facility
Richard Buttery, DIII-D Director
The DIII-D National Fusion Facility is committed to the development of fusion as a viable energy source through collaboration among a large and talented team of fusioneers from around the globe. We aim to close out the key questions and pioneer the required techniques and technologies to make fusion energy production a reality.
As a Department of Energy Office of Science user facility, DIII-D operates an open but controlled program, accessible to all interested parties, with any participant able to propose new and exciting ideas. For each research campaign, all proposed experiments are reviewed by a panel of technical experts based on a combination of scientific merit, alignment with program goals, and technical feasibility. DIII-D serves as a platform to test many different approaches to fusion, whether they involve new technologies that must be explored in the plasma environment or sophisticated plasma manipulation techniques to deliver the performance and robustness required in a fusion reactor.
DIII-D is an incredibly flexible device, able to make and study an amazing range of plasma configurations and approaches. This flexibility is combined with one of the world’s most comprehensive set of tools to allow researchers to investigate fusion reaction events and subsequently develop and analyze solutions for future fusion power plants. Importantly, our outstanding engineering team is able to implement new technologies and systems as required for rapid deliver and testing of innovative ideas.
The DIII-D team is a collaboration of individuals working together to deliver one of the world’s leading science programs. Our collaboration comprises leading national laboratories, universities, and private companies, all working as a team to jointly develop plans and support each other’s work. The program naturally generates leadership and many other opportunities to develop the fusion workforce, and intentional efforts to support early-career scientists and those from historically marginalized communities are ongoing for rapid career development.
Our program is goal oriented and targeted on developing fusion as a practical carbon-free energy solution for humanity. Our team is exceptional, leading the international field with their insights, technical expertise, and scientific understanding. We look forward to continuing to make key advances in fusion science to accelerate the achievement of commercially viable fusion power.
Join us!
DIII-D Leadership Team
Richard Buttery
Director, DIII-D National Fusion Facility
General Atomics
David Pace
Deputy Director, DIII-D National Fusion Facility
General Atomics
Research Division
Craig Petty
Research Director
General Atomics
Punit Gohil
Deputy Research Director
General Atomics
Dan Thomas
Assistant Research Director
General Atomics
Xi Chen
ITER Research Group Co-Lead
General Atomics
George McKee
ITER Research Group Co-Lead
University of Wisconsin
Tyler Abrams
Plasma Interacting Technology Group Co-Lead
General Atomics
Andrew Dvorak
Plasma Interacting Technology Group Co-Lead
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Morgan Shafer
Fusion Pilot Plant Research Group Co-Lead
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Chris Holcomb
Fusion Pilot Plant Research Group Co-Lead
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Operations
George Sips
Operations Director
General Atomics
Kurt Holtrop
Machine Operations Deputy Director
General Atomics
Carl Pawley
Machine Power Deputy Director
General Atomics
Chris Murphy
Chief Engineer, Machine Integration
General Atomics
Alex Nagy
Engineering Lead, RF Heating
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
Suk-Ho Hong
Diagnostic Systems Coordinator
General Atomics
David Schissel
Computer Systems and Science Coordinator
General Atomics