Date: Wednesday, September 21, 2022

Time: 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Location: Skiles Classroom Building (Room 256)

Speaker: Dr. Stan Atcitty

Speaker’s Title: Power Electronics Lead. Member of the Navajo Nation

Speaker’s Affiliation: Sandia National Labs

Seminar Title: Tribal Energy in the US: Energy Equity, Storage, and Technology 

All majors, faculty, staff, and students welcome. Light refreshments provided.

Abstract: Energy storage systems play a vital role in electric utility infrastructure and remote power systems by providing multiple technical and economic benefits such as improved asset utilization, consumer flexibility and cost control, and increased value of variable energy sources such as from photovoltaic and wind energy. The DOE Energy Storage Program leads a worldwide effort in addressing energy issues through energy storage R&D for grid-tied and off-grid systems throughout the United States, including on Native American tribal lands. In addition to energy storage and PCS R&D, the Energy Storage Program is also focused on addressing energy access issues in disadvantage tribal communities and promoting tribal sovereignty. This presentation will provide a background on grid-tied energy storage and power electronics R&D, as well as show examples of energy storage and power electronics benefits to tribal communities. The presentation will begin at 2 PM in Skiles 256 and Dr. Atcitty will be in the venue until 4 PM. Save the date and tell your friends and stop by Skiles 256 to learn more about electrical energy in tribal communities. Anyone is welcome to attend this event, and no one is required RSVP.

For more information about Tribal Energy watch the short videos below.

Tribal Energy Sovereignty

Native Professionals Assisting Native Communities

Speaker Bio: Dr. Stan Atcitty is a member of the Navajo Nation, and he received his BS and MS degree in electrical engineering from New Mexico State University in 1993 and 1995, respectively. In 2006, he was the first American Indian male to receive a Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering from Virginia Tech University. He is presently a Distinguish Member of Technical Staff at Sandia National Laboratories in the Energy Storage Technology and Systems department. He leads the power electronics subprogram as part of the DOE Energy Storage Program and has gained international recognition for its state-of-the-art research and development under his leadership. Five of his projects have won the prestigious R&D 100 award and one Gold Green Energy award from the Research & Development magazine. His interest in research is power electronics necessary for integrating energy storage and distributed generation with the electric utility grid. 

Stan has over 60 publications and holds four patents and another three pending. In 2007, he received the American Indian Science and Engineering Society Technical Excellence Award for his American Indian community involvement and technical achievement. He was recently featured in a middle school level children’s book titled “Energy Basics – Energized!” published by Sally Ride Science book in 2012. In 2013, he coauthored a book titled Power Electronics for Renewable and Distributed Energy Systems. In addition, President Barack Obama presented Stan with the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientist and Engineers on July 31, 2012. This is the highest honor bestowed by the US government for outstanding scientist and engineers who show exceptional leadership at the frontiers of scientific knowledge during the twenty-first century.