KR Sridhar
Profile Verified by The Marque
Last Updated: 22 Sep 2026
Founder, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
San Jose, US
Profile Verified by The Marque
Last Updated: 22 Sep 2026
THE MARQUE
In Their Own Right
Biography
KR Sridhar, Ph.D., is the Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of Bloom Energy Corporation, which he established in 2001 to develop solid oxide fuel cell technology for on-site power generation. Under his leadership, Bloom Energy has grown from a research-focused startup into a publicly traded company, delivering energy solutions across commercial, industrial, and utility-scale applications.
Before founding Bloom Energy, KR served as Director of the Space Technologies Laboratory at the University of Arizona, where he was also a professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering. He led NASA research initiatives, including systems to produce oxygen from the Martian atmosphere and other life-support and exploration technologies for planetary missions. He also mentored teams, secured government contracts, and advanced innovations in aerospace and mechanical engineering.
KR has contributed to numerous publications and holds multiple patents in energy systems and electrochemical conversion. His work spans academic research, corporate leadership, and advisory roles, connecting industry, government, and higher education.
In addition to his role at Bloom Energy, he serves on corporate and academic boards, including the Board of Directors at C3 AI, and advisory boards at Caltech’s Resnick Sustainability Institute and the University of Illinois’ Grainger College of Engineering.
KR is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and has contributed to shaping research and policy in clean energy and space technologies.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering with honors, a Master’s degree in Nuclear Engineering, and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering.
The Record
Background
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2001 — Present
Founder, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
Bloom Energy
Bloom Energy is a clean energy innovator that produces efficient, low-emission electricity on-site using advanced fuel cell technology, enabling sustainable and resilient power for businesses and communities.
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1996 — 2001
Director, Space Technologies Laboratory
The University of Arizona
KR led the Space Technologies Laboratory at the University of Arizona, directing pioneering NASA-focused research on planetary exploration. He also mentored teams, secured government contracts, and advanced innovations in aerospace and mechanical engineering.
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1996 — 2001
Professor of Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering
The University of Arizona
KR served as a professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering at the University of Arizona, where he also directed the Space Technologies Laboratory, leading advanced research on space systems and Mars-related technologies and securing major research contracts before founding Bloom Energy.
In The News
Newsfeed
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6 April 2026 · Bloom Energy
Bloom Energy Named to Newsweek’s 2026 List of America’s Most Trustworthy Companies
Read more -
23 January 2026 · Investor's Business Daily
Bloom Energy outperforming Nvidia as a key energy play for AI:
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2 December 2025 · Resource Works
The power revolution under our noses
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12 September 2025 · Semafor
Bloom Energy’s KR Sridhar on why all CEOs need a power strategy
Read more
Formative Years
Education
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University of Illinois
Ph.D. | Mechanical Engineering
1989
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University of Illinois
M.S. | Nuclear Engineering
1984
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National Institute of Technology, Trichy
B.E. (Honors). | Mechanical Engineering
1982
Areas Of Focus