Eric Drummond is an entrepreneur, business development ecosystem builder, former mayor, and was a partner at one of the globe’s largest international law firms, now with 46 offices in 21 countries.  Drummond has more than 25 years of business, corporate, and complex administrative law practice, with a focus in emerging technology, advanced energy, telecommunications, climate, and capital formation.

Early in his career in Austin Texas, Drummond was part of the team that formed the then-third largest Public Utility Holding Company with significant post-merger work involving some of the nation’s largest nuclear power generating stations. After President Clinton signed the Telecommunications Act of 1996 into law, Drummond served for over 10 years as one of five regional counsel for the enterprise that would become the largest wireless carrier in the world.

After moving to Colorado in 2004, he served as Chair of his community’s Economic Development Commission and on City Council. In 2007 Drummond was elected Mayor, allowing him to maintain and support earlier economic development initiatives. In 2008, the city was recognized by Fodor’s/Frommer’s Travel Guide as one of the “10 Coolest Small Towns in America”.

In addition, he has represented the U.S. Department of Energy in the nation’s $32.4 billion Section 1705 Loan Guarantee Program. Drummond was appointed to Colorado’s Renewable Energy Development Team by the Governor in 2011. In 2012, he was asked to assist in creating the Energy Fellows Institute (f/k/a the Cleantech Fellows Institute), where he founded the Clean Energy Generation program, ultimately serving as Co-Managing Director.

An advocate for Colorado’s innovation and business community, he was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Colorado Venture Capital Authority by the President of the Senate in 2013 and currently serves as the Chair. In 2014, Drummond was appointed to the 5-member Foundation Board of Directors for the University Corporation for Atmosphere Research (UCAR) in Boulder, Colorado.  UCAR manages the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), the nation’s premier federally funded research lab in weather forecasting, climate, and the earth sciences, on behalf of the National Science Foundation.

Drummond is currently the President of Global Strategy for FORMATIV, the lead owner and developer of the new World Trade Center – Denver, and the Founder and CEO of the Innovation Corridor. Drummond received his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy (emphasis in Symbolic Logic) from the University of Texas at Austin and his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Texas School of Law.

John has served the Nation for more than three decades and has extensive experience in leadership, research, development, technology, innovation and logistics. He is currently a public and private sector advisor to numerous technology companies, universities and government organizations. His focus is on national security and technology acceleration in support of national priorities and homeland security.

He is a Managing Partner, at One Defense, an organization originating out of the Office of the Secretary of the Department of Defense as a next generation national security enterprise to foster an expanded defense technology innovation community of practice that incorporates DOD stakeholders, traditional defense industry, the start-up and venture capital communities, and the academic research community. John also serves as Senior Advisor at The Chertoff Group and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Veteran’s Affinity Group. Previously, he has served as a Visiting Senior Research Fellow, Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS), National Defense University (NDU) in Washington, DC and Senior Advisor to the National Security Technology Acceleration Program (MD5), now the National Security Innovation Network (NSIN) providing our Nation’s leaders with expertise on national security issues.

In his last assignment, he served as Commanding General of the United States Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. There he led 13,800 scientists, engineers, and support personnel at more than 100 global locations controlling 75% of the Army’s R&D budget. While there, he won and led 5 of the 7 President of the United States (POTUS) National Manufacturing Innovative Institutes, a program to stimulate the nation’s economy by rapid technology development and transfer. He also developed cooperative science and technology strategies for numerous allied nations. He now advises and develops strategies for countries on all technology sectors to position them and assure their economic future. He ran the Science, Technology, Education Mathematics (STEM) and Educational Outreach Programs (AEOP) for the Army and is widely recognized for his work in providing humanitarian assistance and aid to countries in need.

Before RDECOM, he served as the Commanding General, U.S. Army Sustainment Command at Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois. Prior to that he was the Chief of Staff at the U.S. Army Materiel Command in Huntsville, Alabama. He also served as Commanding General, AMC-Southwest Asia/U.S. Army Central G-4/Combined Forces Land Component Command C-4. John has a degree from the United States Military Academy and a master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College.

Michael Jewell is an attorney at Jewell & Associates, PLLC. Licensed by the State Bar of Texas since 1989, Michael’s legal practice primarily has focused on representing clients before state and federal regulatory agencies and enforcement entities on matters addressing electricity, telecommunications, and professional regulation.

In addition to his legal practice, as a seasoned government affairs professional with more than 30 years’ experience in and with Texas government, Michael has served as a regulatory and legislative advocate for national and international corporations and organizations, including Able Grid Energy Solutions, Ambit Energy, Direct Energy, Enel X, MP2 Energy, Pattern Energy, Reliant Energy, Toshiba, the Environmental Defense Fund, the Solar Energy Industries Association, and an international telecommunications company on issues relating to the competitive electric and telecommunications markets, as well as appropriations, business development, intellectual property, operations, professional licensing, and taxation. Michael helps shape and advocate his clients’ public policy positions with state legislators, key executive officials, and state regulatory agencies, including testifying before state legislative committees.

Born in Dallas, Texas, Michael attended the University of Texas at Austin for both his undergraduate and law school education. Michael is active in a variety of organizations, including the Gulf Coast Power Association, and is a member of the Board of Directors for the Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute and Conservative Texans for Energy Innovation. Michael is a member of the State Bar of Texas and the Travis County Bar Association and is AV® Peer Review Rated Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell® Law Directory.