Meet the Team

Chief Executive Officer

Christopher E. Wood brings over three decades of transformative leadership in advanced manufacturing, energy systems, and technology commercialization to AEM. As the former Vice President of Operations for Skywalker Holdings’ NorCal Museum Siding division, he led one of the most complex composite manufacturing startups in the country—delivering more than 1,200 unique engineered façade panels for the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in just 36 months. This achievement required rapid workforce expansion, facilities build-out, implementation of advanced digital fabrication methods, adoption of Lean/TPS principles, and coordination across aerospace, automotive, construction, and advanced-materials industry standards.

Christopher E. Wood

Chief Executive Officer

Chief Technology Officer

Dr. McLarty built a $1million/yr solid oxide research lab, produced several patents, dozens of publications, and thousands of citations. He left his tenured faculty position in Mechanical and Materials Engineering after 9 years at Washington State University to commercialize this technology. As a former US National Team swimmer and professional triathlete, he knows hard work and teamwork create success.

Dr. Dustin McLarty

Chief Technology Officer

Test Systems Lead

Sage Pratt, an Idaho native and US Air Force Veteran, leads test system development at Alternative Energy Materials. Sage has built everything from button cell to stack test stations. Sage earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Idaho before serving in military space operations.

Sage Pratt

Test Systems Engineer

DPP-AM Lead

Spencer leads the development of Alternative Energy Material’s Gen2 DPP-AM printer. He applies his experience in rapid prototyping, 3D modeling and FDM/SLA 3D printing, with a strong foundation in robotics, automation and control. Spencer earned a mechanical engineering BS from Washington State University.

Spencer Kinder

DPP-AM Lead

DPP-AM Quality Control

Willa Steeb started working at AEM as an additive manufacturing development intern and has continued developing the automated powder coating and powder deposition systems. Willa brings outstanding technical and design skills and decision making into a collaborative team environment working towards a sustainable energy technology.

Willa Steeb

DPP-AM Quality Control

High Pressure Test Engineer

Steve leads the high-pressure testing of direct ammonia synthesis from a high temperature electrolyzer. Steve earned a MS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Warwick in the UK and began his career as a front-end systems engineer in the automotive industry, leading the design and development of injection-molded components before beginning his PhD studies at Washington State University.

Stephen Woodward

High Pressure Test Engineer

Our Story

Alternative Energy Materials began in a WSU lab with a single breakthrough nanomaterial for high pressure electrolysis. The material unlocked new possibilities for manufacturing solid-oxide electrolyzers as solid monoliths operating at extreme pressure. After years of testing and lab-scale validation, it became necessary to ensure this laboratory innovation was commercialized for maximum impact. The integration of pressurized electrolysis and ammonia synthesis created a breakthrough system with the ability to convert 70% of input energy into anhydrous ammonia for fertilizer or fuel. The team working to translate this validated concept into a engineered reality combines deep technical expertise in solid oxide ceramics with a passion for innovation. We have developed, patented, and de-risked the materials, manufacturing, and test systems needed to scale a modular and highly efficient green ammonia technology for global impact.

We believe that process intensification of the electrochemistry and thermochemistry is key to solving the energy storage and fertilizer challenges. Splitting water under the high temperature and high-pressure conditions necessary for ammonia synthesis unlocks performance, efficiency and cost benefits. Our commitment to a step-change in performance and cost drives us to continuously push the limits of materials and manufacturing technology to deliver a market defining technology.