The Fuel Cell Seminar & Exposition

2006 Fuel Cell Seminar

2006 Fuel Cell Seminar Award Winner

John O’Sullivan

We are pleased to announce the winner of the 2006 Fuel Cell Seminar is John O’Sullivan. This award will be officially presented at the Plenary Session of the 2006 Fuel Cell Seminar on November 14, 2006 in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The Fuel Cell Seminar Award is awarded annually to someone who has demonstrated significant leadership in promoting the overall advancement of fuel cell technology. The recipient is selected as someone who has promoted partnerships and built coalitions that advance the research and development, commercialization, and implementation of fuel cells on either a national or global scale, and who has helped develop and/or enhance alliances with stakeholders, engaging in cross-functional activities relevant to the ultimate success of fuel cells, and helping to resolve barriers to the commercialization of fuel cells.

It is particularly befitting to bestow this award on John O’Sullivan at this, the 30th Anniversary of the Fuel Cell Seminar, as he attended the very first Seminar in 1976, and has (and continues to this day) to provide excellent input and guidance to the Seminar in promotion of the growth and maturity of the Seminar and fuel cell technology.

John O’Sullivan’s involvement with fuel cells spans over 35 years. He has headed the fuel cell programs at the U.S. Department of the Army Belvoir Research & Development Center, the Institute of Gas Technology and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), and has been a consultant since May 2000. His involvement with fuel cells has encompassed program administration and management, strategic planning, basic research, test and evaluation, and product design and development.

Biosketch for John O’Sullivan

Experience:

Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)
October 1992-May 2000

Manager, Distributed Generation Technologies
Program Manager, Fuel Cells
Manager, Fuel Cells Commercialization

Responsible for program planning project management and implementation. Primary focus in technology development and assessment of fuel cells and microturbines. Managed and participated in active programs involving PAFC, MCFC, SOFC, PEMFC, and Proton conducting oxide electrolytes. Also involved with product definition application identification and field experience with fuel cells and microturbines.

Institute of Gas Technology (IGT) in Chicago, Illinois
1980-1992

Institute Scientist
Assistant Vice President, Engineering Division
Director, Energy Conversion and Storage

Responsible for the molten carbonate fuel cell program and dealing with the utilization of carbonate salts for high temperature energy storage. The MCFC program, funded by DOE, led to the creation of M-C Power, Inc. by IGT as the means of technology commercialization. IGT continued to provide the basic R&D support to the program. As administrator of the IR&D program funded internal fuel cell development efforts in SOFC technology.

U.S. Department of the Army Belvoir Research & Development Center
1969-1980

Chief C Petroleum and Environmental Technology Division
Chief (Acting) C Energy and Water Resources Laboratory
Chief (Acting) C Electrochemical Division
Chief C Basic Research Branch, Electrochemical Division
Supervisory Chemical Engineer

Was responsible for the more basic R&D of the army program as well as interaction with the development programs. Technologic emphasis was on a series of 1.5 kW, 3.0 kW and 5.0 kW field power plants based on phosphoric acid. Smaller efforts for silent power sources involved some of the only PEM work done in the U.S. during the late 1970’s. Was responsible for the development of one of the earliest (1974) hybrid electric vehicles, a 4,000 lb. forklift truck powered by phosphoric acid fuel cells and lead-acid batteries.

Research Division of the Allis-Chalmers Corporation (A-C) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
1962-1969

Manager, Mineral Processing

Responsible for basic R&D efforts in the areas of comminution, agglomeration, pyroprocessing and hydrometallurgy. Specialized in processes for cement and lime kilns and direct reduction of iron ore. Supported the fuel cell effort via work on asbestos membranes and development of a continuous process for catalyst production. Developed Thermochemical Cycles for hydrogen production from nuclear reactors.

Education:
Ph.D. Geology; Soil Engineering; Soil Physics/Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 1961
M.S. Geology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 1958
B.S. Geology, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN, 1955

Affiliation:
Sigma Xi
Electrochemical Society
Chair, National Capital Section, 1976 & 1977

Chairman, DOE/Hydrogen Technical Advisory Panel – 2001 to 2003
Chairman, 2000 Fuel Cell Seminar

Founding Member, Treasurer, and Board Director: Midwest Cogeneration Association Inc. (Affiliated w/ American Cogeneration Association) circa 1985 to 1992

Founding Member and Member, Board of Governors: Fuel Cell Institute 1985 - 2003

Accepted into Initial Class of MARAD Program (US Army Material Command – Executive Development)

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