J. Richard HessRichard Hess is the Director for the Idaho National Laboratory Energy Systems and Technologies Division, which division addresses critical national energy challenges in biofuels/bioenergy, renewable electrical systems/grid, and hybrid renewable-nucler systems. He led the developed of a biomass feedstock preprocessing and logistics program at INL and continues to serve as the Laboratory Relationship Manager for that program. This program focuses on the cost-effective use of lignocellulosic biomass crops and residues in biorefining operations, including biomass harvesting, handling, storage and transportation; and preprocessing biomass into suitable industrial grade bioenergy commodities through enhanced feedstock formulation, densification, and packaging for transportation. He also managed the design and construction of one of DOE’s five biomass demonstration units. Richard holds a Doctorate in Plant Science from Utah State University, and Master’s and Bachelor’s Science Degrees in Botany from Brigham Young University. Following Graduate School, Richard served as an Agriculture Congressional Science Fellow in the Washington, D.C. Office of Senator Thomas Daschel. In this role, he worked on several national agricultural issues-including new and industrial uses of agricultural products, federal grain inspection standards, plant variety protection, and other agricultural R&D policy issues. Read More Read Less