He has been a strong advocate for research and innovation including service on the boards of the American Membrane Technology Association and the International Desalination and Reuse Association, a current member of the National Alliance for Water Innovation’s Research and Industry Advisory Council and working with European, Middle Eastern, North African, and Asian governments. Over the years he has worked on issues involving advanced treatment including water scarcity, water and peace, the values of water, and the history of desalination.
He helped to design and later became a judge for the 2014-2016 Desal Prize with USAID and Reclamation. He advised and judged Reclamation’s 2017-2022 More Water Less Concentrate prize competition. And he is currently leading MEDRC’s 2017-2024 Oman Humanitarian Desalination Challenge to develop a low-cost handheld desalination device. He graduated from the College of Idaho with a BS in Zoology, from Columbia University with an MS in Chemical Engineering, and from the University of Denver with an MBA in Finance.