Anantha Krishnan
About Anantha Krishnan
Anantha Krishnan is the Senior Vice President of the Energy Group at General Atomics, where he leads operations at the DIII-D National Fusion Facility. He has over 30 years of experience in research and development, having previously held key positions at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and DARPA.
Work at General Atomics
Anantha Krishnan serves as the Senior Vice President of the Energy Group at General Atomics. He has been in this role since 2020 and is based in San Diego, California. Under his leadership, the Energy Group operates the DIII-D National Fusion Facility, which is the largest magnetic fusion research facility in the United States. His work focuses on advancing fusion energy research and supporting inertial fusion research initiatives.
Education and Expertise
Anantha Krishnan holds a Doctor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he studied from 1986 to 1989. He also earned a Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Marquette University, studying there from 1984 to 1986. His educational background supports his extensive expertise in programmatic development, research and development, and business development in various fields.
Background
Prior to his current role, Anantha Krishnan worked at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for 15 years, serving as Associate Laboratory Director for Engineering from 2005 to 2020. He also held a position as Program Manager at DARPA from 1999 to 2005. Earlier in his career, he was Vice-President of Advanced Technology at CFD Research Corporation from 1989 to 1999.
Achievements
Anantha Krishnan has over 30 years of experience in various sectors, including materials and manufacturing technologies, biomedical engineering, and power and energy systems. He played a significant role in supporting inertial fusion research at General Atomics, which involves using shockwaves to achieve fusion conditions. Additionally, he contributed to the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Stockpile Stewardship Program, utilizing his expertise in precision manufacturing and materials science.
Research Contributions
During his tenure at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Anantha Krishnan seeded and enabled new strategic programmatic thrusts in advanced materials and manufacturing, biomedical technology, and collaborative autonomous systems. His contributions have advanced research initiatives and fostered innovation in these critical areas.