Dr. Kirk Gerdes serves as Associate Lab Director of the Coal Center of Excellence within the National Energy Technology Laboratory’s (NETL) Research and Innovation Center (RIC) and manages implementation of the Center’s research programs and all of the Center’s dedicated staff. Prior to serving, Dr. Gerdes served as a federal researcher and research group leader in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), Chief of Staff to the NETL Director, Chief of Staff to the NETL Chief Research Officer, and Deputy Director of the Research and Innovation Center.