Jeff Latkowski, Ph.D.

Jeff Latkowski is the senior vice president of innovation at TerraPower, where he is responsible for the origination, evaluation and development of high-risk, high-potential energy solutions within TerraPower. He is also responsible for the development and growth of partnerships that can facilitate the origination of new ideas and energy solutions.

Dr. Latkowski has more than 25 years of experience in the generation, analysis and evaluation of new ideas and designs for nuclear systems. He was previously employed by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), where he most recently served as the chief scientist for the Laser Inertial Fusion Energy (LIFE) program. Prior to this, Dr. Latkowski held positions in LLNL’s Fusion Energy Program, Laser Program, and within the National Ignition Facility Directorate. His technical expertise includes systems engineering and design, neutronics, safety and environmental evaluation, x-ray physics, optics, and laser and fusion technologies.

Dr. Latkowski was the recipient of LLNL’s first Director’s Performance Award, which he received for defining and defending the environment, safety and health position of the National Ignition Facility, a $3.5B laser project that was under construction from 1997 to 2009. In 2009, Latkowski received the Fusion Power Associates Excellence in Fusion Engineering Award.

Dr. Latkowski received a Bachelor of Science in nuclear engineering from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and a doctorate in nuclear engineering from the University of California at Berkeley. He is a member of the American Nuclear Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, is named on approximately 20 patent applications, and is named as an author on nearly 100 journal articles and conference papers.