John Farrell

Associate Laboratory Director National Laboratory of the Rockies

John Farrell Associate Laboratory Director, Energy Security and Systems Innovation John Farrell serves as the associate laboratory director for NLR's Energy Security and Systems Innovation directorate. In this role, he oversees NLR's advanced manufacturing; building technologies; cybersecurity, energy security and emergency response; electricity; hydrocarbons; hydropower; geothermal; industrial technologies; solar heating for industrial processes; wind energy technologies programs. The portfolio encompasses more than $324 million and a workforce of approximately 750. Farrell is also the lead of the Advanced Research on Integrated Energy Systems (ARIES) research platform, the nation's most advanced platform for energy systems integration research and validation. Previously, Farrell served as laboratory program manager for the Vehicle Technologies Office, which includes batteries/energy storage, power electronics, vehicle/grid interactions, and biofuel/advanced engine interactions. He also managed the RD&D portfolio for the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation and was responsible for developing and integrating the lab's advanced mobility strategy with broader initiatives across NLR, other DOE national labs, and industry. Prior to joining NLR in 2013, Farrell spent 15 years at ExxonMobil's Corporate Strategic Research Laboratory, where he held various technical, strategic planning, and program management positions and led research collaborations with numerous vehicle manufacturers, universities, and national labs. He is among NLR's Distinguished Member of Research Staff and is a fellow of the Society of Automotive Engineers International. He holds a B.S. in chemistry from Purdue University and a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from the University of Colorado.