Keynote Speaker - Admiral Robert Willard (Retired)

Admiral Willard (Ret.) is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO), the world’s trusted authority on nuclear safety and reliability in the operation of commercial nuclear plants, with members including utilities operating commercial nuclear plants in North America, China, Romania, South Africa and UAE, along with traditional and advanced reactor manufacturers and architectural, engineering, and construction firms.    

Admiral Willard is also a highly distinguished retired United States Naval Officer whose career included, among many other posts and appointments, Commander of The United States Pacific Command, leading the responsibility for all armed forces over an area of more than 100 million square miles and 375,000 United States Service Members.

As an F-14 aviator, Admiral Willard served in a variety of west coast fighter squadrons, was Operations Officer and Executive Officer of the Navy Fighter Weapons School (“Top Gun”) and commanded the “Screaming Eagles” of VF-51. Following nuclear power training, he served as Executive Officer of the USS Carl Vinson and commanded the amphibious flagship USS Tripoli (LPH 10), and the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). He was actively involved in the 2009 rescue of Captain Phillips, and during his time with “Top Gun”, he was a consultant for the 1986 film Top Gun, where he piloted the “MiG-28” that receives "the bird" from Goose and Maverick in the film.

We look forward to Admiral Willard sharing his insights into the world of Top Gun, leadership in the changing world, events at a national and international level, strengths and weaknesses of our national power grid, wildfires and the ever-evolving energy demands of America.