Brent Brunell, '94, the Technology Director of Digital & Electrical Systems at GE Vernova Advanced Research, will visit campus as a featured guest speaker for the Design Lab Showcase on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. The showcase runs from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, with Brent’s keynote presentation beginning at 3:00 PM in DCC 324. With an academic foundation from RPI and MIT and nearly thirty years of experience, Brent leads a global team at the intersection of AI, robotics, and power systems. His distinguished career has spanned pivotal roles in aviation and additive manufacturing, making him a premier voice on the future of industrial innovation.
During his presentation, "The Energy Supercycle: How R&D is Powering the Future," Brent will explore the unprecedented wave of investment driven by the electrification of industry, grid modernization, and the massive power demands of AI data centers. He will highlight how GE Vernova is meeting these challenges through cutting-edge R&D and offer students a firsthand look at the breakthrough technologies being developed to redefine the energy landscape.
This session serves as a unique call to action for the next generation of engineers. Brent intends to demonstrate why this is the most exciting era for engineering in decades and how student innovation can directly contribute to solving humanity’s most pressing energy problems. Drawing on his leadership at GE Vernova, he will challenge attendees to think boldly about the role of engineering innovation in building a world that works.
