LaserMotive, an independent R&D company specializing in laser power beaming technology, has announced the appointment of company co-founder Tom Nugent as president and technology industry veteran David Bashford as vice president of operations.

The announcement comes just weeks after the company’s win in the 2009 NASA-sponsored Power Beaming Competition for a prize of nearly $1 million.

According to the company, the appointments are the first in a series of strategic actions the company plans to take in upcoming months as part of its overall plan to develop laser power beaming for a variety of commercial applications, both near and long term.

“Laser power beaming is a technology that holds great promise for a wide variety of industries, from unmanned aerial vehicles to space based solar energy,” said Dr. Jordin Kare, one of the world’s leading experts on laser rocket propulsion who co-founded the company with Nugent. “With their background, Nugent and Bashford have the experience and expertise to help LaserMotive in its goal to bring that vision into reality.”

Nugent brings a wide variety of technical and management experience for space and technology companies, including serving as project team leader for LaserMotive’s winning entry in the Space Elevator Games. Prior to co-founding LaserMotive, Nugent served as research director for LiftPort Group – the Space Elevator Companies, one of the pioneers in the development of the modern Space Elevator concept. Other space development work includes liquid-fueled rocket engine development through the MIT Rocket Team, and advanced fusion propulsion research at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Nugent holds a BS in Physics from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and MS in Materials Science and Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Bashford brings more than 30 years of experience in applied technologies development, electro-mechanical design and prototyping in the innovation business, and served as climber development leader for LaserMotive’s winning entry in the Space Elevator Games. Prior to joining LaserMotive, he served as technical associate in R&D at Philips Oral Healthcare/Sonicare where he managed the operation of the Innovation and Development laboratory and provided prototyping and failure analysis expertise during the development of Sonicare's resonant drive system based product line - Flexcare. Other development work includes Coinstar Inc. from start-up through IPO.

LaserMotive’s industry partners include some of the leading companies in aerospace and lasers, including The Boeing Company, Dilas, Andrews Space, MS Kennedy, Glendale, 4D Optical, and In-Tec.

For more information, visit: www.lasermotive.com