Biography

Ben Richardson is an energy transition enthusiast, national security expert, and bureaucracy hacker. He recently joined Our Next Energy to lead Product Strategy. This follows a three-year tour as an activated military reservist establishing Defense Innovation Unit's newest technology vertical focused on the energy sector. While at DIU, he built a team of 40 energy professionals and started nearly 30 projects, ranging from e-mobility (air, land, sea), long duration storage, advanced aviation designs, alternative battery chemistries, on-site power generation (solar, wind, geothermal), hydrogen, battery recycling, hazardous material management, power management and optimization, and remote power generation.   

Prior to joining DIU, Ben served in various senior positions in the Pentagon to include the Director of Critical Technology Protection in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security and the Director of Global Markets and Investments in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics. In these roles, he developed and promulgated policies and oversaw the associated budgets and workforce to protect DoD's critical technologies. In addition, Ben served as the DoD lead on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).  

Outside of his government experience, Ben has also been a consultant with Protiviti, an internal audit and risk-consulting firm, primarily supporting due diligence for private equity clients. Ben started his career as an intelligence officer in the United States Marine Corps, to include multiple overseas tours. He continues to serve as a Colonel in the Marine Corps Reserves where he has held multiple positions with the Intelligence Community, including teaching at the National Intelligence University. 

Ben holds a Bachelor of Science degree in International Affairs with a minor in History from the Georgia Institute of Technology, Master of Business Administration in Finance from Hofstra University, a Master of Science in Strategic Intelligence from the National Intelligence University, and a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University. In addition, he was a Senior Executive Fellow at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.