Robert McGrath, Senior Vice President of Georgia Tech and Director of the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), was selected to serve on the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Laboratory Task Force.  McGrath is one of 15 representatives from academia, industry and government appointed to the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board (SEAB) National Laboratory Task Force that is charged with providing guidance and oversight on important issues concerning the management and operations of the Department of Energy’s 17 national laboratories.

The Georgia Tech Strategic Energy Institute’s Executive Director Tim Lieuwen said McGrath’s appointment underscores Georgia Tech’s leadership in addressing important energy challenges.

“Restructuring our energy systems to achieve a sustainable, affordable and secure energy supply is one of the major challenges and opportunities of our time,” said Lieuwen. “Georgia Tech has a long history of working with academic, industry and government partners like the Department of Energy to shape and accelerate this transformation through scientific and technological innovation.”

McGrath joined the Georgia Tech Research Institute in 2011. Under his leadership, GTRI has grown into an applied research powerhouse with 2,000 employees and R&D awards in excess of $360 million from such entities as the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, other federal agencies and private industry.