Christopher Irwin has spent over 17 years in a diverse spectrum of high technology fields from HVAC to III-V semiconductor manufacturing, and most recently in communication networks for advanced metering (AMI) and Smart Grid infrastructure. He is a member of the Department of Energy team administering the Smart Grid Investment Grants, and is responsible for standards and interoperability activities, including participation in the NIST-led Smart Grid Interoperability Framework.

Prior to joining the Department of Energy, he served as Director of Products at an AMI communications vendor, also participating in Technology Discovery and Business Development. In that role, he gained a full market perspective on the electric energy sector, as well as natural gas and water infrastructure. This experience, combined with his semiconductor and satellite communications background, contributes to a unique perspective on the US energy business under transformation. Chris holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park, and an M.B.A. from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.