Congratulations José Zayas
Inclusive Leader Award Winner for Energy & Sustainability
As a native of Puerto Rico, José was raised by a young, single mother who always supported his curiosity for how things worked. Of course, this led to many broken electronics and toys around the house, and occasional minor injuries, but it supported a rich upbringing that led him to pursue an engineering career. When José was 10 years old, his stepfather’s military career led them to live in various countries throughout the Caribbean and Latin America. He witnessed the struggles that many of these countries face in accessing reliable and affordable electricity and clean potable water.
After moving to the U.S. to finish high school, José continued his education by attending the University of New Mexico as a NASA scholar, to pursue his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. While working on his degree, he secured an internship at Sandia National Laboratories, one of our Nation’s premier federally funded research institutions that dates back to the Manhattan project.
It was there that José got his first glimpse into the nascent wind energy industry and was immediately bitten by the "green bug"! As a research engineer, José quickly progressed through the technical ladder. He had the opportunity to work on many research initiatives and conduct experiments in a variety of areas including aerodynamics, material science, and controls.
José decided to continue his education and pursue a master’s degree in Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering at UC Davis in California. After completing his degree, José was given the opportunity to lead the very same program where he started as an intern. Shortly after, he became the leader of the laboratory’s broader Renewable Energy portfolio, where he could have more of an impact on a set of industries that were poised to harness our abundant, domestic, affordable, and reliable clean energy.
In the summer of 2011, José was asked to move to Washington, D.C. to run the Wind and Water Power Office for the Department of Energy. Although it was a tough decision to uproot his young family, the opportunity to help these industries realize their potential, under an administration that was truly committed to the transformation of our energy landscape, was an opportunity he felt compelled to pursue. During his time at the DOE, the office made key investments aimed at enabling a robust renewable energy future, gaining energy independence, and supporting our climate change goals.
In 2017, José joined Eagle Creek Renewables and transitioned to the private sector, where he could continue to learn and contribute to the challenges faced by these industries. Recently, José has found his way back to Washington, D.C. by joining the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) as their EVP for programs and policy. In this role, José leads ACORE’s policy agenda and implementation of its programs and comprehensive initiatives.
In reflecting on his career, José admits to missing the day-to-day fun of developing technology or working on the next potential innovative solution. However, he is thankful for the opportunity to work on crosscutting technologies and influence policies that will affect how the U.S. generates and consumes its energy. José feels blessed to have worked with so many talented people and companies throughout his journey and plans to remain focused on Renewable Energy for the rest of his career.
