Qteros adds former DARPA Director Dr. Anthony J. Tether to Board of Directors
Qteros today announced that Dr. Anthony J. “Tony” Tether, recently retired director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), is joining the Qteros Board of Directors. Dr. Tether, who was recently presented with the Department of Defense Outstanding Public Service Medal, will bring decades of experience in managing advanced research into technological development to his new role on the Qteros board.
“Tony Tether is the ideal candidate to join the Board at Qteros and we’re thrilled to welcome him,” said Dr. William Frey, Qteros’ CEO and former head of Dupont’s biofuels division. “Tony has directed some of the most cutting-edge technological research in the world, and also has the experience of helping to start and build advanced technology companies.”
Qteros, originally known as SunEthanol, has developed a proprietary, game-changing technology known as “C3” (Complete Cellulosic Conversion), using the Q Microbe™. First discovered in Western Massachusetts by Qteros Founder and Chief Scientist Dr. Susan Leschine, the Q Microbe™ has the unique ability to transform virtually any cellulosic material into ethanol.
“Throughout my career I’ve worked to develop advanced, high-payoff technologies,” said Tether, “and the Q Microbe™ fits this model. By successfully developing and distributing their technology, Qteros will be a leader in the next generation of fuels.” The U.S. military is one of the biggest energy users in the world and will benefit from Qteros research and development of its Q Microbe™.
From 2001 to 2009 Tether served as director of DARPA, the agency created as a response to the Soviet Union’s launch of Sputnik. DARPA serves as the central research and development office for the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). He previously led The Sequoia Group, an organization he founded, which provides program management and strategy development services to government and industry. He has also served as Chief Executive Officer for Dynamics Technology Inc., and helped found Systems Control Inc. Tether holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University. Tether will join former U.S. Representative Marty Meehan, who has served on the Qteros board since December 2008.
Qteros is a venture-backed company committed to delivering innovative process technologies for clean transportation fuels that reduce greenhouse gas emissions at a price competitive with gasoline. The Qteros scientists and business team are dedicated to producing liquid fuels to achieve a sustainable solution to the world’s growing energy needs.