Christopher W. Forral
About Christopher W. Forral
Christopher W. Forral serves as the Shot Director at the National Ignition Facility, where he oversees the operation of a powerful fusion laser. He has a background in electrical engineering and extensive experience in managing complex systems within the energy sector.
Work at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Christopher W. Forral has been serving as the Shot Director at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) since 2017. In this role, he leads the activities of eight operational work groups, ensuring the precise preparation and execution of experiments. He provides authorization for firing the NIF's 1.8 mega-joule, 500 terra-watt inertial confinement fusion laser. Forral acts as a liaison between operations, engineering, and science groups, maintaining quality and safety standards during experiments.
Education and Expertise
Forral completed his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin from 2001 to 2005. He later pursued a Master of Business Administration at Texas State University from 2015 to 2017. Additionally, he obtained a Certificate in Energy Innovation and Emerging Technology from Stanford University in 2013. His advanced coursework includes nuclear power generation, electric grid management, and fusion laser operations, where he has served as a student, instructor, and evaluator.
Background
Christopher W. Forral graduated from Clark High School in San Antonio, TX, earning his diploma between 1997 and 2001. He began his career as an Electrical and Mechanical Technician at Deutsch Defense Aerospace Operations from 2005 to 2006. Forral has also worked as an Operations Power Systems Engineer at ERCOT from 2013 to 2016 and as an Operations Training Instructor at ERCOT from 2016 to 2017. His experience includes a six-year tenure at Southern California Edison as a Licensed Reactor Operator and Operations Outage Coordinator.
Achievements
Forral has extensive experience in managing multibillion-dollar systems, with a focus on real-time operations coordination. His role at the National Ignition Facility involves leading complex experimental operations and ensuring adherence to safety and quality standards. His diverse background in electrical engineering, business administration, and energy innovation supports his contributions to the field of inertial confinement fusion.