Michael Callahan began working at NREL over a decade ago leading and supporting teams focusing on energy and water resilience projects and systems integration. Callahan and his teammates were instrumental in helping the Department of Navy reach its energy goals to develop one gigawatt of distributed energy resources, catalyzing microgrid and utility-scale solar-plus-storage projects on installations and improving installation resilience. He was embedded with the Department of Navy at Pearl Harbor and in San Diego to support resiliency analysis and project development for military installations on Pacific islands and the Southwestern United States. Callahan also led partnership activities with the Department of Navy and NREL. Concurrently, Callahan supports resiliency and systems integration activities on islands across the globe in partnership with the Department of Defense, Utilities, Department of State, United States Agency for International Development, and the Department of Energy. 

Callahan began his career over two decades ago, designing and managing large-scale engineering projects in five West African countries. Following his work in Africa, Callahan managed teams of contractors, engineers, and architects to develop award-winning, efficient facilities, and large capital construction projects in Colorado. He also started an international company focused on the deployment of new clean energy technologies.

Callahan has authored multiple publications and earned various awards and research grants for financial analysis and energy project implementation. He is a Professional Engineer, Certified Energy Manager, LEED AP, and bilingual with a wide range of domestic and international experience over multiple decades.

Education

MBA

B.S., Civil Engineering