Dan E. Arvizu, Ph.D., the first Hispanic lab director in the history of any of the 17 U.S. Department of Energy National Labs, is now chancellor of the New Mexico State University (NMSU) system. The NMSU Board of Regents selected Arvizu to replace Garrey Carruthers, who retired July 1. (NMSU photo by Andres Leighton).
Arvizu, who was named one of “The 50 Most Important Hispanics in Technology & Business” by Hispanic Engineer magazine in 2005, started his career in 1973 at Bell Labs.
After four years transferred to Sandia National Labs, where he spent 21 years, fourteen in executive roles. In 1998 he joined CH2M Hill Companies, Ltd for six years, his last two years as a chief technology officer.
In January of 2005, he was appointed the eighth director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado. He retired in December of 2015 and is presently director emeritus.
In 2004 Arvizu was appointed by President George W. Bush, and subsequently in 2010 reappointed by President Barack Obama (twice confirmed by the full Senate), to serve six-year terms (2004-2010; 2010-2016) on the National Science Board.
Arvizu graduated from New Mexico State with a mechanical engineering degree before earning a master’s degree and Ph.D. at Stanford University.
An AT&T Bell Labs and Sandia National Laboratories alumnus, he formerly directed research centers for advanced energy technology, material, and process sciences, and technology commercialization. He was also an advisor to the National Academies of Science and Engineering and participated in National Research Council studies of energy R&D and the Energy Department’s National Coal Council.
Arvizu’s current roles include advising on organizational strategy, reviewing investments and conducting technical due diligence for Emerson portfolio technology companies, and supporting strategic initiatives with Emerson’s network partners. He also currently serves as a Precourt Institute Energy Scholar and adjunct professor at Stanford University.
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