Photo | Courtesy of Commonwealth Fusion Systems
Devens-based Commonwealth Fusion Systems is working to create commercially-viable fusion energy.
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Devens fusion firm names former Trump official, Microsoft CFO to board
Photo | Courtesy of the White House
Former Microsoft CFO and White House official Christopher Liddell is joining the board of Devens-based Commonwealth Fusion Systems.
Christopher Liddell, a former CFO at Microsoft and member of the first President Donald Trump Administration, has been named to the board of directors of Devens-based Commonwealth Fusion Systems.
Liddell, who served as assistant to the president, deputy chief of staff, director of strategic initiatives, and director of the American Technology Council under Trump, is joining the company’s board as an independent member, according to a press release issued by CFS on Wednesday.
"I am a great believer in fusion and am excited to be a part of CFS as the company leads the commercialization of this vital power source in the next few years," Liddell said in the press release. "CFS is advancing this technology before our very eyes and is unlocking a new form of safe and clean energy that promises to meet near insatiable demand in the United States and worldwide."
In addition to his time at the White House and Microsoft, Liddell previously served as the CFO and vice chairman of Detroit-based General Motors and CFO at Tennessee-based International Paper Co.
Liddell, a dual citizen of the United States and New Zealand, holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of Auckland and a master’s degree in philosophy from the University of Oxford.
CFS’ board members include CFS CEO and co-Founder Bob Mumgaard, Chief Science Officer and co-Founder Brandon Sorbom, and Alan Eustace, who previously served as senior vice president of engineering and first senior vice president of knowledge at Google.
Liddell joins CFS as it competes with other companies in a race to commercialize fusion energy, which seeks to harness the same process which powers the sun, capturing energy released when atoms like hydrogen fuse together. The process has the potential to produce abundant amounts of energy without the same risks associated with conventional nuclear fission power plants.
There are approximately 45 firms around the world working to commercialize fusion energy, according to the Fusion Industry Association.
Eric Casey is the managing editor at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the manufacturing and real estate industries.
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