Ambrose Schwallie - Executive VP of Corporate Development
Mr. Schwallie is Vice President of Corporate Development with overarching responsibility for the company's strategic and business development initiatives. Previously, he was Vice President of Emerging Markets/Health Sciences where he managed the operations of the division and interacted with other division managers and senior managers of other organizations. Mr. Schwallie oversaw the transformation of the South Carolina Biotechnology Incubation Program, where he served as CEO, into the South Carolina Biotechnology Center (SC Bio) and through the recent merger with SCRA Applied R&D. The organization was chartered to develop the life sciences sector, from medical devices to bio-remediation, in the state of South Carolina. The organization worked with research centers such as the Greenwood Genetic Center, the research universities, Savannah River National Laboratory, and NOAA/Hollings Marine Complex to commercialize promising technologies and form new companies. The organization performed technology reviews, market evaluations, and other support activities for early stage companies and also supports existing industry- bringing biotechnology into the state's economy.
Prior to joining the South Carolina Biotechnology Incubation Program, Mr. Schwallie became CEO of Distributed Energy Systems Corporation in January 2006. He focused the company on extending today's resources while creating tomorrow's choices by increasing power and hydrogen generating efficiencies with onsite solutions, by reducing fossil fuel demand through onsite generation and the use of renewable resources, and by delivering readily deployable site-specific solutions to grid-connected, remote and off-grid locations.
As President of Washington Group International's Defense Division from 2002 through 2005, Mr. Schwallie was responsible for three globally expanding government market sectors: threat reduction, homeland security and defense infrastructure services. The more than $500-million business unit managed and executed projects and programs under contracts with the United States Departments of Defense and State as well as related commercial interests. The ultimate aim in carrying out these contracts was to strengthen national security in the U.S. and abroad.
During his 35-year career, Mr. Schwallie held a variety of engineering and program management positions involving a wide range of advanced technologies - including non-proliferation fuel cycles, alternative weapons material production, fuel cells, wind and solar energy.
Mr. Schwallie was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Ohio State University. He pursued additional graduate studies at Carnegie Mellon University. He was granted an Honorary Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Business Administration by the University of South Carolina.