Dr. Christian Vandervort is as a Technology-to-Market Advisor at the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E).

Prior to joining ARPA-E, Vandervort served with General Electric for 29 years with roles at GE Power and GE Global Research Center (GRC).  At GE Power, he was Product Manager for the 9HA.02 Gas Turbine and Combined Cycle Power Plant. In this role, he focused on product development, introduction, manufacturing, and sales and the product was successfully introduced with multiple power generation projects spanning five countries across two continents.

Vandervort rejoined GE Power & Water in 2013 following 10 years at GE’s Global Research (GEGR) Center.  As Technology Leader - Combustion Systems, his team performed Research and Development in support of key initiatives across multiple businesses in the transportation, power, and aviation sectors. Prior to his transition to GRC, Vandervort held leadership positions in several design engineering departments, including Hydro, Steam Turbine, Generator, and Gas Turbine Combustion Engineering. Some of the major technology initiatives included fish-friendly hydro, HEAT steam turbine, super-conducting generator, and Dry Low NOx (DLN) gas turbine combustion.

Vandervort also completed Nuclear Plant Engineer qualification with the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory nuclear plant operations program. He participated in operations and training at a Naval Nuclear Submarine Prototype.

Vandervort received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.  He also completed his M.S. in Nuclear Engineering and B.S. in Nuclear Engineering & Mathematics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Vandervort has been awarded 37 patents, authored numerous technical publications, and delivered multiple technical presentations.