Our Team
Management. Science. Board. Advisors.
Ron Kelly
Chief Executive Officer
Ron is the CEO of Ambature, Inc. He is a performance-driven executive with over 30 years of experience in technology development, technology licensing and corporate and intellectual property law in North America and around the world.
He has extensive experience negotiating technology licensing with multinational corporations such as IBM, GE, Philips, Siemens, Johnson & Johnson, Essilor Laboratories, Burmah Castrol and McKinsey. Ron has consulted with government officials in the US, Canada and the UK, helping them understand the role disruptive information technology plays in creating greater quality and efficiency in the healthcare industry.
He is the former President, CEO, and Chairman of Medicalis Corporation, a leading disruptive healthcare technology company based in Waterloo, Ontario (Canada’s technology triangle). Prior to joining Medicalis, Ron served in various board and management positions in companies involved in the licensing of various technologies, including laser vision correction technologies, non-cancerous lignin polymers, e-commerce and software.
Ron is a graduate of Dalhousie University with a combined Masters of Business Administration (International Business and Finance) and Juris Doctorate degree. He also holds an honors undergraduate degree in Finance and Management from the Memorial University of Newfoundland. Upon graduation, he was recruited by Canada’s largest law firm and focused on corporate finance and intellectual property for clients such as Walt Disney, Pepsi and the Government of Canada.
Mitch Robson
Chief Technology Officer
Mitch has 10 years of experience developing nanomaterials for renewable energy production, quantum computing, and health and safety. He has a PhD in Engineering Physics from McMaster University in Hamilton Canada. His research focused on growth and fabrication of semiconducting nanowires for next-generation infrared cameras. Here he gained expertise in industry-standard semiconductor and nanofabrication processes from atomic-scale deposition to advanced materials characterization. He has six publications in the nanotechnology field and has received several awards for his research including NSERC and Excellence in Engineering.
Peter Kastelic, CPA, CA
Chief Financial Officer
Peter is an accomplished CFO with more than 20 years of experience directing emerging organizations through exponential growth. As a CFO at both private and public corporations, his expertise spans the full breadth of strategic financial leadership. His specific strengths include defining aggressive new corporate strategies, financing, reversing chronic revenue and cash flow problems, driving organic and M&A growth activity, building strong and scalable infrastructure, and increasing shareholder value. Peter facilitated revenue growth from $30 million to $200 million over four years and the exit from two companies for a value of $350 million.
Liam Kelly
Head of Development
Liam helps shape Ambature’s overall business strategy. He grows and coordinates Ambature’s ecosystem of governments, research institutions, and commercialization partners to achieve strategic goals. He serves as a bridge between technical and nontechnical stakeholders and represents Ambature to external and prospective partners.
Liam has a diverse background of work experience through the University of Waterloo’s renowned co-op program, a startup he co-founded after university to reduce return rates and improve customer experiences in the apparel industry, and software development projects for a private investment fund. He has taken on more external-facing responsibilities as the company moves to commercialize its technology.
Liam has a BASc in Management Engineering from the University of Waterloo, combining the fields of mathematical optimization and information systems to improve organizational efficiency and effectiveness.
Priyanka Brojabasi
Senior Scientist
Priyanka works with the Science Team on multifunctional materials and device fabrication primarily based on unconventional superconductivity. She has more than 10 years of experience handling several R&D projects in the field of materials science and engineering.
Priyanka maintains a broad range of scientific research activities that include physical properties of materials, engineering artificial heterostructures composed of transition metal oxides, exploring new states of matter at interfaces, unconventional superconductivity, nanofabrication, Josephson junctions, quantum computing and qubits, magnetocaloric effects, colossal magnetoresistance, low dimensional materials (e.g., thin films, CNTs, Graphitic Nanofiber, etc.); nanomaterials, nanofluids and polymers and their applications in renewable energy, hydrogen storage, solar cells, sensor development; corrosion and radiation damage studies, and ultrasonics. She has scientific publications in peer reviewed journals, as well as in conference proceedings. She has received several awards, merit certificates and scholarships from different Canadian and international organisations including NSERC, Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, Université de Sherbrooke (Bourses d’excellence de la Faculté des Sciences), and the Government of India.
Prior to her PhD in Quantum Materials from Institut Quantique, Université de Sherbrooke, Canada, she held different scientific positions in several reputed universities and R&D institutes in India such as Banaras Hindu University, University of Kalyani, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), and the Centre for Astro-particle Physics & Space Science at Bose institute. She also enjoyed the rewarding experience of teaching and mentoring undergraduate students as an assistant professor of Physics in Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology in India. She is a member of the American Physical Society (APS) and the Women in Physics Committee at Université de Sherbrooke.
Apart from her scientific research on quantum materials, she enjoys data analytics, business analytics and data science, and has work experience as an IT consultant at CGI Inc. Beyond these interests, she is doing self-research in Econophysics, Quantitative Finance, and Fractal Market Analysis as well as exploring new mathematical models to understand non-linear market behavior. In her leisure time she likes to practice and teach music and art (painting). She is a regular member of the National Gallery of Canada.
Archana Tiwari
Senior Scientist
Archana works with the Science Team to fabricate high-temperature superconductor devices. Archana completed her PhD in Experimental Condensed Matter Physics at the University of Waterloo, Canada.
She has been a member of the Quantum-Nano Fabrication and Characterization Facility at the University of Waterloo since 2016. Her research focused on fabrication and measurement of quantum material devices. During her PhD, she designed and characterized devices based on semiconductors, superconductors, and semimetals. Her work on non-linear transport in symmetry breaking materials was published in Nature Communications.
Sujatha Vijayakrishnan
Scientist
Sujatha works with the Science Team to fabricate and characterize high-temperature superconductor devices. She has several years of experience in experimental condensed matter physics, cryogenic transport measurements, and nanofabrication.
In 2024, Sujatha obtained her PhD in Physics from McGill University. Her doctoral research focused on hydrodynamic electron transport in ultra-high mobility two-dimensional electron gas systems, where she led experiments that advanced the understanding of electron viscosity and collective behavior in mesoscopic semiconductor devices. During this time, she published papers in Nature Communications and Physical Review Research and contributed to several additional collaborative projects resulting in peer-reviewed publications.
She joined the University of Waterloo in 2025 as a postdoctoral fellow, working on quantum devices based on undoped semiconductor heterostructures and performing cryogenic measurements within the Institute for Quantum Computing and the QNFCF.
Outside of research, Sujatha enjoys reading, solving puzzles, hiking, and being involved in the community.
Akinwumi Akinpelu
Scientist
Akin works with the Science Team on computational modeling of superconducting materials and thin-film heterostructures. His work spans theoretical and computational approaches to understanding complex material behavior, supporting ongoing efforts in materials discovery, analysis, and device-oriented research.
Akin obtained his PhD in Engineering Physics from the University of Saskatchewan, where his doctoral research centered on the application of first-principles and many-body simulations of condensed-matter systems. His work involved density functional theory, bonding topology, electronic, phonon, and electron–phonon calculations, as well as correlated-electron modeling applied to complex materials under ambient and extreme conditions. He has experience with large-scale high-performance computing workflows and has contributed to peer-reviewed publications in computational materials physics.
Outside of research, Akin enjoys learning across disciplines, mentoring students, and playing chess.
Michael Lebby
Science Advisor
Dr. Michael Lebby is an Anglo-American entrepreneur in the fields of optoelectronics/photonics, electronics and semiconductors, Michael’s career began with the British Government in 1977 in telecommunications. He did research at the prestigious RSRE Malvern labs in the early 1980s and worked at AT&T Bell Labs from 1985-1989 in photonics. At Motorola in the 1990s he drove the development of (and co-authored the first patent regarding) the oxide VCSEL diode laser which is now used in laser mice, 3D sensing/FaceID in mobile phones, and optical interconnects with volumes over 1B units. From 2005-2010 he led the USA trade association in optoelectronics (OIDA) and represented the optoelectronics industry on Capitol Hill. He has run technical start-ups and commercialized optoelectronic and photonics technology into manufacturing. He was voted PIC (Photonic Integrated Circuit) business leader of the year by the PIC International Conference in 2018. He is a technical expert to the European Commission and a Fellow of IEEE and OSA.
William Langer
Board Chairman
Bill was born in Erie, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Gannon University and is married with four children and three grandchildren.
Bill began his career at Equifax, an international information-reporting firm, where he held various field and senior corporate positions in operations, sales, and marketing. In 1982, he founded Langer Companies in New York to provide information and technology support to the commercial insurance industry. Bill managed the company through expansions to New Jersey, Charlotte, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Orlando, the development of a national marketing division, and retail and real estate development in the greater New York City area. In 2000, Langer Companies moved to Phoenix, where they focus on acquiring and developing real estate.
In addition to investing in technology and business services companies, Bill serves on a number of private and public boards and committees, including the Barrow Neurological Foundation, Phoenix Country Club, 100 Club of Arizona, Arizona State University Presidents Club, and Elevate Phoenix.
Bruce Barnhill
Board Member
Bruce retired from Northwest Airlines where he had worked for 33 years. Bruce’s career included a long stretch in Northwest’s International Division including a stint in England, where he was responsible for Eastern Europe, The Middle East and Africa. Domestically, Bruce’s responsibilities were primarily operationally oriented and included time in Seattle, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Spokane and Chicago.
Prior to Northwest, Bruce worked as a consultant at Booz, Allen & Hamilton and also spent a year with the Federal Aviation Administration. Bruce also serves as Vice-Chairman of Scottsdale Community Bank, based in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Bruce earned a BA from Rollins College and a MPA from Southern Methodist University.
Bruce is committed to the local community, having served on the Board of Directors for Scottsdale Soccer Club for 12 years, including 6 years as the Club’s President. This non-profit organization serves over 3,000 youth soccer players. Bruce also served on the Board of Directors for the Arizona Youth Soccer Association. This board provides support and oversight for over 60 youth soccer clubs representing the entire state.
Bruce and his wife, Jisook, have two daughters. They have lived in Paradise Valley since 1999. Bruce and his wife both grew up on the international scene. Bruce’s father was a career military officer and they lived extensively in the Middle East and Europe. Jisook’s father was a career diplomat representing South Korea in Kenya, Switzerland, Nepal and the United States. Their extended family is stretched all over the globe, and free time is often spent traveling to see them.
Michael Strasser
Board Member
Michael is a Partner with Chicago Partners Wealth Advisory and has more than 30 years' experience in the financial services businesses, managing the finances of high net worth individuals and businesses. He's also an active angel investor and a Founder and Principal of Ponderosa Wealth Management, an asset manager with offices in Washington and Arizona.
Michael has a BS in Finance from Arizona State University and an MBA from the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business. He began his career at HSBC in the bank's US fixed income securities division and also worked with Arthur Laffer, Victor Canto and Larry Kudlow at Laffer’s economic research and consulting firm, leaving 1997 to start PWM.
Patrick Murphy
Board Member
Mr. Murphy is Director, Legal - Privacy (APJ) for ServiceNow Inc. Mr. Murphy is responsible for privacy and data protection compliance in the Asia Pacific & Japan region. He is also a key member of the corporate legal team, advising leadership teams in sales, marketing, and engineering and facilitating commercial enablement matters.
Prior to joining ServiceNow, Mr. Murphy was Senior Business Manager and Principal Counsel in the Patent Strategy and Licensing group at Apple Inc. Mr. Murphy was responsible for developing and promoting Apple’s world-wide positions on intellectual property matters related to standards and driving a focused IP licensing strategy across all product teams.
Mr. Murphy was previously a partner at Thomas Kayden law firm and a Senior IP Counsel for Hewlett-Packard Company. He was also a Systems Engineer for General Electric.
For Ambature, in addition to being a member of the board of directors, Mr. Murphy contributes to the patent development process and reviews IP and licensing agreements.
Hemant Patel
Board Member
Hemant Patel has a diverse background that adds strength to any business group. His business track record includes being the sole founder of a consulting engineering company that provides program management, planning, design and construction management for infrastructure projects, which Hemant built into a regional organization over fifteen years with offices in five states. In 2006, Hemant sold his firm to an international company in order to open doors to overseas markets for the firm’s expertise. Prior to starting his own firm, Hemant’s professional experience included an international construction company, a public agency responsible for water and wastewater services for a large region of the United Kingdom, and private consulting firms, where he gained expertise in project controls and organizational management.
Hemant currently serves as Founder and CEO of Akida LLC, an energy management technology firm. He managed a technical team that developed patented technology in electrical energy management. Hemant led the team to develop applications of the technology to create IOT-ready hardware that provides Big Data to Cloud-based platforms for energy monitoring, analytics and management.
Hemant serves on the Board of Directors of Scottsdale Community Bank with the goal of creating a resource for the Arizona small business community. He is enjoying learning about the intricacies of commercial banking and meeting a diverse group of business people. Hemant is committed to his community and has served in many civic roles. He currently serves on the Flood Control District Advisory Board for Maricopa County and the Board of Trustees for BEMA, a non-profit organization that built a unique temple that serves many different faiths in the East Indian community.
Hemant and his wife, Vinta, are proud parents of two daughters, who are college graduates and pursuing their professional careers.
Hemant holds a Bachelors in Science with Honors from University of Birmingham, England (1979) and a Masters in Business Administration from Arizona State University, Tempe (1993). He is a Licensed Professional Engineer, Arizona.
Anna Leese
Board Member
Anna has more than 35 years of RDT&E in cryogenic and superconducting electronics. She founded the Cryogenic Exploitation of Radio Frequency (CERF) Laboratory at Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Pacific. Since retiring from NIWC Pacific in 2022, she has served as Chief Science Officer in one start-up and founded two start-ups to continue moving cutting-edge technology forward. Anna is a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors and a Senior Member of the IEEE with 22 patents and 57 publications, and she serves her community as a member of several technical committees and boards including the Applied Superconductivity Education Foundation and the National Academy of Inventors.
Raj Jammy
Board Member
Dr. Raj Jammy is President, Global Business Units and Chief Technology Officer of Ferroelectric Memory Company. He is advancing FMC’s mission to deliver high-performance DRAM+ and Cache+ memory solutions for power-efficient cloud and edge AI compute.
Raj is a senior leader in the global semiconductor industry with nearly three decades of experience spanning advanced technology development, executive leadership, and public-private collaboration. His expertise includes logic, memory, advanced packaging, and emerging semiconductor technologies.
Raj began his career at IBM’s Semiconductor Research and Development Center and the T.J. Watson Research Center, and later held senior leadership roles at SEMATECH, Intermolecular (later acquired by Merck EMD Electronics), Carl Zeiss, the Semiconductor Alliance, MITRE Engenuity, and imec USA, where he most recently served as President.
Dr. Jammy is widely recognized for his contributions to semiconductor technology and innovation, holding more than 50 U.S. patents and authoring or co-authoring over 225 technical publications. He holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Northwestern University and has completed executive leadership and strategy training at Harvard Business School.
Christopher Coates
Board Member
Christopher Coates is the Senior Director, Single Synthetic Environments in Military Applications at CAE Inc. Christopher brings extensive experience in defence and security from his service in senior leadership positions of the Canadian military.
A military helicopter pilot skilled in tactical and special operations aviation, he commanded up to senior levels in Canada and operationally overseas. His work with and alongside allies addressed pressing needs in a variety of challenges, both at home and abroad.
Christopher has significant experience in continental defence, including the arctic—an area of particular interest. Recent work focused on the specific technical and operational challenges associated with the defence of North America alongside the US Department of Defense, including senior leadership with North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).
After his military service Christopher has pursued a variety of interests. Very rewarding experience was gained at CAE Inc, working at the interface of high technology and its transformative applications for military and other complex challenges. He is currently working as a senior defence advisor in the Middle East, delivering strategic advice, policy guidance and collaborating with cross-functional teams to develop innovative solutions, and implement strategic initiatives.
Christopher has a BSc with majors in Chemistry and Biochemistry from the University of Calgary, and a Masters in Strategic Studies from USAF’s Air University in Montgomery Alabama.
Catherine Blewett
Board Member
Catherine Blewett brings a broad national perspective to the Ambature Canadian Board based on her distinguished experience in provincial and federal public service.
Most recently serving Canada as the Secretary of the Treasury Board, and immediately prior to that as the Deputy Minister of Economic Development and the President of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Ms. Blewett has held substantive senior leadership roles in Canada.
She has served as the Deputy Clerk of the Privy Council and Associate Secretary to the Federal Cabinet, while concurrently serving as the Prime Minister’s Sherpa, representing Canada on the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy.
She held the position of Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, and has served as Clerk of the Executive Council and Secretary to Cabinet in Nova Scotia, the most senior non-political official in the Government of Nova Scotia. While working in Nova Scotia she also held a number of CEO roles, including the Immigration portfolio as well as Indigenous and Intergovernmental Affairs.
Ms. Blewett has also served as Chief Strategic Engagement Officer of the Ocean Frontier Institute affiliated with Dalhousie University.
Ms. Blewett holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and a Masters degree in Public Administration from Dalhousie University.
Rick Toering
Outside General Counsel & Legal Advisor
Rick manages his eponymous firm, Toering Patents PLLC. Previously, he was a partner in the Northern Virginia office of Womble, Carlyle, Sandridge & Rice PLLC, practicing in the Intellectual Property Section. He counsels clients in patent matters with a focus on the strategic development and procurement of patent portfolios. He routinely provides counsel regarding intellectual property matters in connection with financings, mergers and acquisitions.
Rick is an adjunct professor at The George Washington University Law School where he teaches Patent Management and Strategy.
Prior to attending law school, Rick was a Systems Engineer for General Electric and graduated from GE’s Advanced Course in Engineering. In addition to his law degree from The George Washington University, he holds an MS degree in Electrical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and BS degrees in Electrical Engineering and Engineering Management from Michigan Technological University.
For Ambature, Rick is acting Ambature General Counsel and legal advisor to the board of directors. He is also responsible for the development of the initial patent applications and IP strategy related to Ambature’s core technology.
Alonzo Kelly
Advisor
Dr. Kelly holds undergraduate degrees in aerospace engineering and computer science as well as undergraduate and graduate degrees in robotics. Al is generally active as a technical consultant in robotics and autonomous vehicles. Clients are typically investors, boards, and C level management. Typical assignments include evaluating technical teams for investors, helping to value acquisitions, advising on technology roadmaps, and identifying investment opportunities. He worked in the aerospace industry for ten years before returning to academia.
Less recently, Al consulted on robotics technology for industry. Clients included aerospace consulting companies, navigation test equipment vendors, AGV vendors, CNC machine vendors, medical equipment manufacturers, steel industry suppliers, service robotics companies, and military equipment manufacturers. Government clients included NASA, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the US Army, Navy, Air Force, and DARPA.
Al actively works as the founder or co-founder of the following entities, and he founded or co-founded several more that continue to thrive under professional management. At one time or another, he has functioned as Chairman, Board Member, CEO, CFO, Secretary, Treasurer, and Chief Scientist.
Custom Industrial Automation (Canada) – supplies inspection services to the steel industry
Carnegie Robotics LLC – High tech robotics (guidance and sensing) equipment supplier
Titan Robotics – High tech aircraft maintenance services based on robotics
Analytic Technologies LLC – General Consulting Services in Robotics
Al recently retired from being a full professor on the main campus of Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) as well as Chief Scientist at the unique and world-renowned NREC facility nearby. Al has been involved in IP related activities in his role at CMU/NREC for about 20 years.
Adam kablanian
Advisor
Adam A. Kablanian is an Armenian-American entrepreneur whose journey from Aleppo, Syria, to Silicon Valley has been driven by a passion for science, a belief in innovation, and a commitment to community. After moving to California to attend college, Kablanian earned a B.A. degree in Physics from the University of California, Berkeley, followed by an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Santa Clara University. That educational foundation set the stage for a career spent building innovative and transformative companies that connect deep technology with real-world impact.
In 1996, Kablanian co-founded Virage Logic, a groundbreaking provider of embedded memory solutions for System-on-Chip. Under his leadership as CEO and Chairman, the company went public on NASDAQ in the summer of 2000, grew to over 700 employees, and became the global leader in embedded memories before being acquired by Synopsys. His decision to open a branch in Armenia during a period of economic hardship had a lasting effect—his team of engineers went on to design components used in the first-generation Apple iPod, placing Armenia on the tech innovation map. This success encouraged other major tech players to expand operations into the country.
Following Virage Logic’s success, Kablanian led a series of high-tech ventures focused on display and semiconductor innovation. As CEO of PlasmaSi, he helped develop cutting-edge OLED encapsulation technology, which Aixtron later acquired. He also served as CEO of Memoir Systems (acquired by Cisco) and launched iCON Communications, one of the first companies to bring broadband internet to Armenia. He also transformed Cynora, a German-based company, into a leader in OLED emitter materials, where he has spearheaded the use of AI-powered molecular discovery to invent next-generation TADF Emitter materials for displays and successfully sold it to Samsung Display in 2022.
Kablanian’s drive to build doesn’t stop at tech. In 2017, he founded Alexandrea Winery in Armenia to support local agriculture, create jobs, and elevate Armenian winemaking on the global stage. Combining traditional viticulture with modern techniques, Alexandrea Winery was the first in the country to produce international wine varieties, Riesling, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir, and create unique wines by blending international and Indigenous grape varietals to create international award-winning wines —an emblem of Kablanian ethos: innovation rooted in heritage.
Education and giving back have remained close to Kablanian’s heart. He led efforts to raise $3 million for the Armenian Studies program at UC Berkeley and, along with his wife Rita, established scholarships for Syrian-Armenian students at the American University of Armenia, where he also served on the Board of Trustees. Deeply aware of the support he once received as a student, he remains committed to empowering others to pursue their own paths. Additionally, Kablanian has been a board member of Zinapah since 2020 and is the founder of the nonprofit organization in the USA, Friends of the Armenian Soldier and Family, which helps raise funds to support the families of fallen Armenian heroes and disabled veterans.
Geoff Williamson
Advisor
Geoff is the CSO of TotusRX, an IOT solution for the pharmaceutical industry, and the President & COO of Silicon Turbine Systems, a micro generator technology company.
He has been an active, executive-level business manager specializing in early stage CleanTech / GreenTech companies and technologies since 1997. He has been instrumental in coordinating investment rounds for a number of start-ups and has managed incubator groups within large corporations such as CellNet Data Systems, Myhomekey, Sage Systems, Invensys and Trilliant Networks. Most recently, Geoff led the business and investment case development for a North American-based, early-stage control systems company that successfully raised more than $17M of private equity, enabling them to enter into the emerging smart grid / connected premises marketplace.
Before 1997, Geoff managed business units for Honeywell and Johnson Controls in the Asia-Pacific. He assists Ambature with strategic partnerships and business development.
Craig Changstrom
Advisor
Craig is a Managing Partner at Maximum Export/Import, a company he started with 3 other partners specializing in creating seamless opportunities for companies to conduct business in the Latin American Markets for products focused on mobility, home and health improvements. He is also the COO of TotusRX, an automated store solution for pharmaceutical dispensing that improves patient engagement and medication adherence.
An entrepreneur at his core, Craig chose to retire after nearly 34 years at HP, inventing new product lines that resulted in multi-million dollar business for HP. He led over 5 new startups including multiple brand licensing ventures and HP’s direct disc labeling product Lightscribe. Craig managed and founded the HP-Hard Disc Drive Business under the brand name of HP SimpleSave. His last position was WorldWide Sales Manager for HP’s STEM products sold in the education space.
Ron Stritch
Advisor
Ron is the President of Verifi LLC, which he jointly owns with W. R. Grace. Verifi® specializes in placing process control and network communications on concrete mixer trucks to ensure the quality production of concrete from the batching plant to the construction site.
Ron has been involved in numerous startup companies and global technology companies during his career. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Technology from the U.S. Air Force Academy, a Masters of Science degree in Management Information Systems from Purdue University, and a Masters in Business Administration from Denver University.
Davis Hartman
December 29, 1947 — March 24, 2026
in memoriam
Davis was an excellent scientist and patient teacher. He always made himself available to explain even the most complicated problems in thoughtful ways, and we greatly appreciated his good spirits and humor. Davis and Michael Lebby shaped much of our foundational technology strategy together, including our decision to focus on chips and sensors. We had the pleasure of working with Davis for more than 12 years.
Davis earned a B.S. in Physics at Upsala College before completing his Ph.D. at The University of Arizona in experimental high energy physics and experimental cosmic ray physics using the atmospheric Cerenkov technique. His postdoctoral research focused on the space borne cosmic ray physics of a VEGA 2 payload, which flew by Halley’s Comet in 1984, using TOFFIMS (now called a Neutral Gas Experiment).
Davis was a research scientist for Bell Laboratories and Bellcore (AKA Telcordia) before working with Motorola for nearly two decades as Engineering Manager, Technical Leader, then Director of Systems Technology Research. He explored the fundamental limits of electrical interconnections and set design goals for practical adaptation of the optical alternative. Davis led a team that developed acrylate based radiant cured polymer materials for patterned channel optical waveguide fabrication on electronic substrate materials.
While at Motorola, Davis also worked on the Pierre Auger Project, an international effort to study the highest energy cosmic rays. Under special assignment, he acted as research liaison between Dr. J. Cronin, University of Chicago Physics Department (Nobel Laureate), and Robert Galvin, former Motorola CEO and current Director Emeritus of the Motorola Board of Directors. Together, they designed a fixed wireless LAN data collection system for the Auger Project’s sixty-mile diameter extensive air shower detection system.
Davis worked as an independent consultant via Paladin Science/Engineering, a technical staff member of General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, and a payload architect with Orbital Sciences Corp. He published more than 50 technical articles, authored Quantum Void: The Mystery of Empty Space, and had 48 patents in topics covering systems design, circuit design, device design, and optoelectronic packaging.