Fusion Technology Standing Committee (FTC)
The Fusion Technology committee covers the technology of both inertial and magnetic confinement fusion experiments, which are leading to a better understanding of the requirements for a fusion reactor and for an environmentally benign, virtually limitless source of energy for electric power and industrial uses. This committee organizes the biennial Symposium on Fusion Engineering. This committee also supports the IEEE USA Energy Policy committee in the preparation of energy-related white papers.
Membership
FTC Standing Committee Members
Carl Pawley (appointed 2020)
General Atomics
drcpawley@ieee.org
David Donovan (appointed 2021-2024)
University of Tennessee Knoxville
ddonovan@utk.edu
Daniel Andruczyk (appointed 2021-2024)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
andruczy@illinois.edu
Heather Lewtas (appointed 2021-2024)
Culham Center for Fusion Energy
heather.lewtas@ukaea.uk
Ryoji Hiwatari (appointed 2021-2024)
National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology
hiwatari.ryoji@qst.go.jp
Mirela Cengher (appointed 2022-2025)
General Atomics
cengher@fusion.gat.com
George Sips (appointed 2022-2025, Chair)
General Atomics
sips@fusion.gat.com
Chase Taylor (appointed 2022-2025)
Idaho National Laboratory
chase.taylor@inl.gov
Marc-Andre de Looz (appointed 2023-2026)
PPPL
mdelooz@pppl.gov
Trey Gebhart (appointed 2023-2026)
ORNL
gebhartge@ornl.gov
Sehila M. Gonzalez de Vicente (appointed 2023-2026)
Clean Air Task Force
gebhartge@ornl.gov
Francisco Hernandez-Gonzalez (appointed 2023-2026)
KIT
francisco.hernandez@kit.edu
Richard Pearson (elected 2024-2027)
Kyoto Fusioneering
r.pearson@kyotofusioneering.com
Hanni Lux (elected 2024-2027)
UKAEA
Hanni.Lux@ukaea.uk
Diana Grandas (elected 2024-2027)
EPRI
DGrandas@epri.com
Monica Gehrig (elected 2024-2027)ORNL
gehrigml@ornl.gov
Mark Tillack (elected 2024-2027, NPSS AdCom representative)
University of California San Diego
mtillack@ucsd.edu
Aida Silva Pérez
Executive Administrator for SMG
aperez@cleanairtaskforce.org
Past Fusion Technology Committee Chairs
2024 – 2026 George Sips, DIII-D National Fusion Facility
2021 – 2023 Martin Nieto-Perez, The Pennsylvania State University
2016 – 2020 Charles Neumeyer, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
2012 – 2015 Jean Paul Allain, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
2009 – 2012 Dennis Youchison, Sandia National Laboratory
2006 – 2009 Mark Tillack, University of California, San Diego
2002 – 2005 Phil Heitzenroeder, Princeton Plasma Physics Lab
1998 – 2001 Dick Foley, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
1994 – 1998 Albe Larsen, Stanford Linear Accelerator Center
1990 – 1993 Rich Callis, General Atomics
1986 – 1989 Martin Lubell, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Past Fusion Technology Elected Members of AdCom
2024-2027 Mark Tillack, University of California San Diego
2021 Roger Raman, University of Washington
2019 – 2020 Susana Reyes, Stanford Linear Accelerator
2016 – 2018 Dennis Youchison, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
2012 – 2015 John Sethian, US Naval Research Laboratory
2008 – 2011 Hutch Neilson, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
2004 – 2007 Charles Neumeyer, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
2000 – 2003 Rich Callis, General Atomics
1996 – 1999 George Miley, University of Illinois
1992 – 1995 Albe Dawson Larsen, MIT
1988 – 1991 Holt Murray
1984 – 1987 H. Ward Harris, Los Alamos National Laboratory
1980 – 1983 unknown
1976 – 1979 E. L. Kemp
Duties of the FTC Chair
The primary responsibilities of the Fusion Technology Technical Committee Chair fall into four areas:
Technical Committee Information
FTC Constitution & Bylaws
Fusion Technology Awards
Award Description
To recognize outstanding contributions to research and development in the field of Fusion Technology. Two awards are presented at each biennial Symposium on Fusion Engineering (SOFE), one for each calendar year of the two year cycle with the first year corresponding to the year between SOFE conferences and the second year corresponding to the year of the SOFE conference at which the presentation is made.
Prize
$3,000 and a plaque. Each award recipient will have SOFE conference registration fees waived for the conference year in which the award is presented and will be reimbursed reasonable travel expenses for conference attendance upon presentation of a travel report.
This award is funded by the IEEE Nuclear and Plasma Sciences Society and the travel expenses by the SOFE conference at which the presentations are made.
Eligibility
Any person, regardless of nationality or Society affiliation, is eligible for the award, with the exception that no current member of the IEEE/NPSS Standing Committee on Fusion Technology may be considered.
Basis for Judging
The recipient shall be selected for one of two categories as determined by the IEEE/NPSS Standing Committee on Fusion Technology that year: (a) outstanding and innovative technical contributions which are widely recognized and have a major impact in the Fusion Technology Community; or (b) outstanding and innovative technical leadership in or service to the Fusion Technology Community. The nominee is not required to be a member of IEEE or NPSS but, where candidates have otherwise equal qualifications, preference shall be given to the candidate who is a member of IEEE.
Presentation
By the Chairperson of the IEEE/NPSS Standing Committee on Fusion Technology or his/her representative, on behalf of the NPSS, during the Symposium on Fusion Engineering.
Nominations
The Fusion Technology standing committee solicits nominations for the Fusion Technology Award by January 30th. The nomination package consists of a nomination letter describing the technical and/or leadership contributions on which the nomination is recommended and a resume from the candidate.
Nominations should be sent to the Fusion Technology Awards Committee chair.
Past Recipients
2023 Jean Paul Allain
In recognition of his contributions to plasma materials interactions, development of tungsten-based alloys and lithium conditioning.
2022 Dennis L. Youchison
2021 Elizabeth Surrey
For her early work in neutral beams for JET and MAST upgrade followed by her significant leadership in the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority.
2020 David Ruzic
For his extensive research into plasma – materials interactions and for his leadership in development of liquid metals protection of reactor walls and divertors.
2019 Lutz Wegener
For his outstanding technical contributions and leadership for the assembly of W7-X, as well as his collaboration on the assembly and integration of NCSX in Princeton and ITER in Cadarache.
2018 Larry Baylor
For his research and leadership in the field of plasma fueling strategies for magnetically confined plasmas, and his role in the fueling, pumping, and disruption mitigation system design activities for the US ITER project.
2017 David Humphreys
Presented to David Humphreys in recognition of his outstanding contributions and leadership in advancing the field of real-time control of magnetically-confined plasmas, backed by an impressive record of publications and citations.
2016 Wayne Meier
Presented to Wayne Meier by the IEEE-NPSS Standing Committee on Fusion Technology in recognition of his outstanding record of accomplishment and leadership in advancing the science, technology and integrated assessment of Inertial Fusion Energy power plants.
2015 Charles Kessel
Presented to Chuck Kessel by the IEEE-NPSS Standing Committee on Fusion Technology for his outstanding contributions to fusion engineering and technology, especially in the area of fusion machine scenario simulation and design of future fusion reactors.
2014 Felix Schauer
Presented to Felix Schauer by the IEEE-NPSS Standing Committee on Fusion Technology in recognition of his many outstanding contributions to fusion engineering and superconducting magnet technology, in particular relating to the design and construction of the stellerator experiment Wendelsten 7-X and design of the stellerator reactor HELIAS 5-B.
2012 Abbas Nikroo, General Atomics
For his many exemplary technical contributions and leadership initiatives in the field of IFE target fabrication techniques in support of the National Ignition Campaign.
2011 Remmelt Haange, ITER International Organization
For his transformational technical leadership of international fusion experiments and lifetime dedication to furthering the development of fusion energy.
2010 Michael Ulrickson, Sandia National Laboratories
For his outstanding and innovative technical leadership in the development of plasma facing components for fusion energy, for his leadership contributions to the ITER Blanket Integrated Product Team and the US ITER Domestic Agency, and for his many years of service to the fusion energy sciences community.
2009 A. René Raffray, University of California, San Diego
For his internationally recognized expertise in fusion engineering and his outstanding contributions to fusion technology, especially in the area of high heat flux components for both magnetic and inertial fusion energy.
2007 Farrokh Najmabadi, University of California, San Diego
For his outstanding and innovative technical leadership in the development of fusion energy, for his contributions to the merging of physics and engineering considerations into the development of attractive fusion reactor concepts, and for his many years of service to the fusion energy sciences community.
2006 Steven Zinkle,, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
For his outstanding contribution to the understanding of radiation effects in materials and his exceptional leadership in the U.S. fusion materials program.
2005 Bradley Nelson, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
For his innovative technical contributions to the engineering of fusion experiments and his exceptional leadership in the design and construction of experimental fusion facilities.
2004 Charles Baker, UC San Diego
For his leadership in the development of fusion technology and the quest to build future fusion power plants, for his leadership of the US ITER fusion efforts, and for his leadership of the US Virtual Laboratory for Technology.
2003 George H. Miley, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
For many innovative contributions to the advancement of alternate confinement fusion concepts and technology, for pioneering the development of fusion neutron sources for industrial applications, and for educating and mentoring a generation of the IEEE/NPSS Symposium on Fusion Engineering.
2001 Joel H. Schultz, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
For his many contributions to fusion engineering and superconducting magnet technology.
1995 Richard J. Thome, MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center
1994 Kenneth R. Schultz, General Atomics
1993 Michael David Williams, Princeton University Plasma Physics Lab
For his development of neutral beam heating of fusion plasmas, For his activities in supporting the transfer of fusion technology from PPPL to the industrial sector, For his leadership in preparing TFTR for the very important and historical introduction of D-T in TFTR.
1991 Stanley Lawrence Milora, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
For his development of plasma fueling by hydrogen pellet injection, for his contribution to the theory of pellet ablation, for his invention and design of the light gas pellet injection concept, and for his pioneering efforts to achieve the application of pellet injectors on plasma machines.
1989 D. Bruce Montgomery, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
For his contributions to the development of both superconducting magnets and high-performance copper magnets: For his pioneering development of hybrid coils: For the engineering concept development of the Alcator series of magnets and for excellence in engineering management, both at the Massachusetts Institute of technology and at a national level on the Compact Ignition Tokamak project.
Fusion Technology Best Student Paper Awards
Award Description
To recognize outstanding student papers presented at the Symposium on Fusion Engineering (SOFE) in the field of Fusion Technology. Up to two awards can be made at each Symposium.
Prize
The award is $500 and a plaque.
This award is funded by the IEEE Nuclear and Plasma Sciences Society’s Symposium on Fusion Engineering.
Eligibility
Any student presenting a paper (or papers) at the current year’s Symposium on Fusion Engineering, regardless of nationality or Society affiliation, is eligible for the award.
Basis for Judging
Student abstracts submitted are prescreened by the Fusion Technology Awards Committee. A select number of students are invited to present a 10-minute oral summary of their paper at the Fusion Technology Committee luncheon, which is held early in the week of the symposium. The recipient(s) shall be selected based on the quality of their oral presentation and the quality of the work represented by their presentation.
Presentation
By the Chairperson of the IEEE/NPSS Standing Committee on Fusion Technology or his / her representative, on behalf of the NPSS, during the Symposium on Fusion Engineering.
Procedure
All students presenting a paper (or papers) at the current year’s SOFE and who submit their abstract(s) in accordance with abstract submittal requirements will be automatically qualified for consideration.
Past Recipients
2023 Matthew Riding, University Of Strathclyde
2021 Pilar Cano-Megias, Universidad de Sevilla
Boosting the efficiency of future fusion power plants by combining energy and heat production
2019 Thomas Looby, University of Tennessee
Convolutional Neural Networks for Heat Flux Model Validation on NSXT-U
2017 German Vogel
Extreme Ultraviolet Spectroscopy Applied to Study RMP Effects on Core Impurity Concentration in EAST.
2015 Kevin Benjamin Woller, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
In Situ Elastic Recoil Detection Analysis of Tungsten and Molybdenum Surfaces During ITER-Like Helium Irradiation
2011 Wenyu Xu, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
“Thermoelectric Driven Liquid Lithium Flow for Divertor Heat Handling”
2009 Mai Ichinose, Kyoto University
“Preliminary Design of High Temperature Lithium-Lead Blanket with SiC Cooling Panel”
2007 Brandon Smith, University of Wisconsin, Madison
“3-D Neutronics Analysis of the ITER First Wall/Shield Module 13”