Russell Kurtz

Russell Kurtz received his S.B. in Electrical Engineering from MIT and his Ph.D. in quantum electronics and optics from USC. He worked as a researcher at USC and co-taught a graduate course in lasers and optics. He developed some of the standard modeling software for night vision systems, developed high-power lasers (solid-state, semiconductor, and chemical), and led the team that applied laser-acoustic vibrometry to detection of buried IEDs. Dr. Kurtz's recent achievements include development of high efficiency solar concentrators, technology to improve the accuracy of metrological systems, and advancement of interferometric vibrometry. His research interests include applications of lasers and photonics, improving and storing solar energy (including using it to generate hydrogen), and validating technologies developed by other companies. He invented or co-invented 17 devices in the lasers, optics, solar energy, and nondestructive evaluation fields, and his analysis and validation of other technologies has been utilized by investors, the California Council on Advanced Competitive Technologies, and the Cleantech Innovation Challenge. He is a Senior Member of IEEE, a Life Member of the Association of Old Crows and SPIE, and a member of OSA, DEPS, AAAS, and ASNT, has contributed to more than 20 conference proceedings, and has published over a dozen papers in refereed journals. Dr. Kurtz is a U.S. citizen.