Xcimer Energy Builds Leadership Team for Industrial Fusion and National Security Applications

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Xcimer Energy today announced the hiring of Doug Kunzman as Vice President of Defense as the company scales the industrial and operational capabilities required for commercial fusion and next-generation high-power energy systems.

Xcimer is developing an excimer-laser architecture designed to enable scalable inertial fusion energy using technologies compatible with industrial-scale manufacturing. The same advances required for Xcimer’s approach to commercial fusion — including high-power laser systems, precision controls, advanced materials, and large-scale industrial operations — have consequential applications across energy resilience and national security.

Kunzman brings decades of operational and program leadership experience across the military, aerospace, and commercial space sectors. He commanded two U.S. Navy warships and oversaw a $90 million overhaul to early completion while rebuilding crew morale and retention. As Commodore of Destroyer Squadron Nine, he led 2,500 sailors and six front-line combatants across Fifth Fleet operations.

Before that, as a Joint Planner with JFCOM in Iraq, Kunzman led a successful effort to restore fuel and electricity infrastructure across Al Anbar province. After the Navy, he ran New Shepard Operations and Maintenance at Blue Origin, then joined Astra as Vice President of Test and Launch Engineering and Operations.

At Xcimer, Kunzman will help expand the company’s work in advanced energy systems, high-power laser infrastructure, and strategic government partnerships.

“Fusion is no longer just a scientific challenge,” said Conner Galloway, CEO and co-founder of Xcimer Energy. “It’s an industrial and strategic capability. The countries that lead in high-power laser systems, advanced manufacturing, and large-scale energy infrastructure will shape both the future of energy and important aspects of national security. Doug brings exactly the kind of operational leadership and systems thinking required for that transition.”

From research project to industrial sector

Kunzman joins as Xcimer, which now has a team of nearly 200 people, prepares to double its full-time workforce over the next year to advance engineering and manufacturing of Vulcan, the company’s next-generation laser fusion facility.

While many fusion companies remain focused primarily on scientific research, a smaller group of companies is scaling the industrial, engineering, and operational capabilities required for commercialization. Xcimer’s recent hiring reflects that transition; the company is building capabilities more commonly associated with aerospace, shipbuilding, and national-scale infrastructure programs than with traditional research organizations.

Xcimer has expanded its leadership team in the past quarter with several newly created roles:

• Brad Appel, Chief Engineer for Vulcan, previously served as CTO at Ursa Major and held leadership roles at SpaceX, where he led development and qualification of Merlin engines for Falcon 9. At Xcimer, he oversees engineering for Vulcan, the company’s next-generation laser fusion facility designed to integrate one of the world’s most powerful laser systems.
• Justin Brynestad, Senior Vice President, Vulcan, oversees the planning and execution of Vulcan as a large-scale engineering program. He previously served as Vice President at Blue Origin, where he led development and production of New Shepard, the reusable rocket system designed to carry astronauts and research payloads past the internationally recognized boundary of space.
• Rachel Konrad, Senior Vice President of Strategic Communications, oversees reputation management and brand strategy. She previously held communications and marketing roles at Tesla, Impossible Foods, and in venture capital, and she taught at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. She focuses on building credibility and awareness around the company’s technology, industrial roadmap, and long-term strategic significance among employees, investors, policymakers, and industry leaders.

Headquartered in Denver, a growing hub for advanced manufacturing, aerospace, energy innovation, and defense, Xcimer expects to continue expanding its team across engineering, operations, manufacturing, defense, and business functions.

“This is a company with potential and mission unlike any other,” said Dan Bauer, Xcimer’s Head of Talent. “We want to hire the builders who will commercialize fusion energy while strengthening America’s industrial and technological leadership.”

About Xcimer Energy: Xcimer is building the industrial infrastructure for scalable laser fusion and next-generation high-power energy systems. The Denver-based company is developing an excimer-based laser fusion architecture to enable commercial fusion power while advancing energy resilience, advanced manufacturing, and national security. Founded in 2022, Xcimer is backed by leading investors and selected for U.S. Department of Energy funding. Visit xcimer.energy.