Tim Thomas will serve as the NSF Engines: Upstate New York Energy Storage Engine’s chief workforce development officer, effective Dec. 1. This appointment reflects a new collaboration between Griffiss Institute and Binghamton University, which administers the Engine. Thomas will integrate this role into his portfolio, complementing other key initiatives he is executing.
Workforce development is one of the three pillars of the Engine, with Syracuse University, a core partner institution, taking the lead. The charge for the pillar is to catalyze innovative, industry-driven education and training programs and to foster regional, national and global collaborations to build an inclusive talent pipeline for the growing battery industry. These efforts will strengthen national security by ensuring that the workforce engaged in key defense-related energy technologies is U.S.-based and trained to the highest standards.
“We are delighted to have Tim join the Engine as a key member of its leadership team,” said Meera Sampath, CEO of the Engine. “Tim brings a wealth of experience from the many leadership roles he held at Mohawk Valley Community College and now at Griffiss Institute. Tim’s strategic thinking, community engagement and business development skills are a great asset to the Engine and will drive forward our mission to grow talent and support the region’s workforce needs in the energy storage sector.”
In his role with the Engine, Thomas will oversee all activities relating to workforce development, including the development of a robust, outcome-driven strategic plan, building on existing initiatives, strengthening already established working relationships and establishing new partnerships. He will work closely with the Syracuse team in driving the above activities designed to address critical skills gaps and build a more diverse and dynamic workforce Upstate New York.
“This collaboration between Griffiss Institute and the Engine represents an extraordinary opportunity, driven by an unprecedented influx of federal and state resources, to advance energy storage technologies and create economic opportunities across the region that the Engine serves,” Thomas said. “The timing is right to attract battery and energy storage manufacturing to Upstate New York. We must build a strong, skilled workforce to secure our nation’s energy systems and infrastructure—because these advances aren’t possible without the people to drive them. Drawing on lessons from the region’s growing semiconductor industry, we’re committed to shaping a workforce development strategy that ensures these opportunities benefit the communities we serve.”
Thomas brings extensive experience from his prior role at Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC) and current position at Griffiss Institute, uniquely preparing him to manage contracts with workforce development providers and address the technical competencies required by industry. He plans to create a consortium of workforce development partners across the Syracuse, Rochester, and Binghamton areas, driving alignment with the Engine’s vision.
In his role as chief academic officer at Griffiss Institute in Rome, N.Y., Thomas will continue to manage the VICEROY comprehensive internship program that supports about 1,000 scholars, promoting student success and developing STEM talent to advance national security and reduce dependency on foreign talent on behalf of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering.
“Partnership is key to progress, and at Griffiss Institute, we’re honored and excited to contribute to the transformative Upstate New York Energy Storage Engine,” said Heather Hage, president and CEO of the Griffiss Institute. “With the unprecedented convergence of historic federal and state resources and the extraordinary talent of the people driving this project, I am confident that Binghamton University and the broader Engine partners will seize this opportunity to position Upstate New York’s academic, industry, and government organizations as leaders in energy storage and security. This collaboration will push innovation forward and create real opportunities for the people in our communities as we aim to secure America’s critical infrastructure and Upstate New York’s role in shaping the future of new technologies.”
Thomas earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Union College, in 2004 and 2005, respectively, before beginning his career as a high school chemistry teacher.
He moved into higher education in 2012, as an assistant professor at Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC). During his time at MVCC, he was promoted to dean, then associate vice president, before being promoted to associate vice president for academic affairs and executive director for workforce development, then chief strategy officer. He joined Griffiss Institute in 2024 to advance its mission to develop STEM talent and disruptive technologies that enhance national security and economic competitiveness for our region, state, and nation.
About the Upstate New York Energy Storage Engine
The NSF Engines: Upstate New York Energy Storage Engine, led by Binghamton University, is a National Science Foundation-funded, place-based innovation program. The coalition of more than 40 academic, industry, nonprofit, state and community organizations includes Cornell University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Syracuse University, LAUNCH-NY and NY-BEST as core partners. The Engine advances next-gen battery technology development and manufacturing to drive economic growth and bolster national security. Its vision is to transform upstate New York into America’s Battery Capital.
About Griffiss Institute
The Griffiss Institute cultivates talent and technology that tackles the world’s biggest challenges. It does so alongside the United States Department of Defense’s Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate (AFRL/RI) and an international network of academic, government, and industry partners. Founded in 2002 in the Mohawk Valley region of Upstate New York, Griffiss Institute has origins as an incubator of ideas. With technology transfer at its core, it forges connections and pathways that enable real-life solutions to make their way from the lab bench to commercial uses. Griffiss Institute continues to elevate and develop the next generation of STEM students, professionals, and technologies that enhance our national security.
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