Rob Pratt is one of the early thought leaders behind the smart grid, focused on an information-rich future for the power grid. Mr. Pratt manages Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s (PNNL’s) Smart Grid R&D program activities for the U.S. Department of Energy. He leads a team studying communications architecture, advanced control technology, and simulation of the combined engineering and economic aspects of the future grid, including the effect of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

Rob received his B.S. in Ocean Engineering from Florida Atlantic University and an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Colorado State University. He has been a scientist at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory since 1985.