When Greg Adam began working with satellites in the U.S. Air Force, he had no idea he was getting an early education in renewable energy.
But 15 years later, he realized he had been preparing for his future career in clean energy by learning about state of charge, depth of discharge, and other ideas that would translate.
“I found myself working in utility-scale energy storage, and the same issues that I learned about in the satellites have applied to the utility-scale industry as well,” says Adam, who currently serves as sales manager at PXiSE Energy Solutions, a provider of grid-control technology.
Adam graduated from the Air Force Academy in 2008 and went on to serve five years in the Air Force. He earned his master’s degree in global energy management from the University of Colorado Denver in 2013, and began his civilian career working in the oil and gas industry.
“At the time, I thought oil and gas was the right venue,” Adam says. “But after two downturns and after Covid, I really pivoted my career to focus on renewables.”
Adam says he believed that renewables had matured as an industry enough to provide stability, but still offered the ability to solve new and complex problems—just as he had in the military.
“The way I describe it to some of my former oil and gas friends is, it’s not Birkenstocks and granola anymore,” Adam says. “There’s some big players putting big dollar amounts into this industry, and it’s starting to stand on its own.”
Photo Courtesy PXiSE Energy Solutions
Adam quickly found that the flexibility and adaptability he had developed in the Air Force served him well in the renewable energy industry.
“In the military, there’s a saying that the only constant is change,” Adam says. “I’ve found that in my professional life as well, where the more you can make sense of the changing landscape, the more you can push forward and keep working towards your goal. I think that’s a strength that veterans offer, and I think it’s a very valuable resource for any company.”
Adam lives in Colorado, and he says watching his two young sons enjoy the outdoors underscores the importance of pushing for energy independence for the United States.
“Part of my goal in working in clean energy is trying to make sure that when we’re skiing, when we’re hiking, when we’re fishing, that all of those natural resources are still around for them and their kids,” Adam says.
