Levi Tillemann
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
1981 or 1982 (age 43–44)[1]
Yale University (BA)
Johns Hopkins University (MA, PhD)
Levi Tillemann | |
|---|---|
| Born | Levi Mills Tillemann-Dick 1981 or 1982 (age 43–44)[1] Denver, Colorado, U.S. |
| Education | Regis University Yale University (BA) Johns Hopkins University (MA, PhD) |
| Occupations | Author, businessman |
| Employer | New America Foundation |
Levi Mills Tillemann-Dick (born November 25, 1981) is an American businessman, academic, and author. Currently managing partner at Valence Strategic, LLC and a fellow at the New America Foundation, he is also the author of the 2015 book, The Great Race: The Global Quest For The Car Of The Future (Simon and Schuster). Levi was also the lead author of the report Revolution Now, which he published while working in President Barack Obama's Department of Energy.[2] He was an unsuccessful candidate in the Democratic primary in the 2018 election in Colorado's 6th congressional district.[3][4]
Tillemann's father, Timber Dick, was a businessman, inventor, and administrator at the University of Denver's School of Engineering and Computer Sciences. Timber, who was the son of Colorado's first female lieutenant governor, Nancy E. Dick, died from burn wounds following a 2008 automobile accident.[5][6] Levi, with his brothers Corban and Tomicah, accepted the NASA "Create the Future" award for their work with their father on an ultra high-efficiency engine.[5]
Tillemann's mother, Annette, is a Jewish convert to Mormonism and daughter of Tom Lantos.[7] While serving on a mission, Levi left the faith when he was unable to reconcile the logical and liberal outlook his parents had instilled in him with perceived inconsistencies in church doctrine.[5][8]
At fifteen, Tillemann started college at Regis University, transferring to Yale University[7] at 16 where he graduated with honors. He then earned a PhD from Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies in Japan and China studies.[9][10] He speaks Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese and Japanese.[11]
Career
While in graduate school, Tillemann served as a researcher for Pulitzer Prize-winning economic writer Daniel Yergin.[5] and, with his brother Corban, continued his father's efforts to develop radical new engine design that is much more efficient than a traditional internal combustion engine.[12] In 2009, their startup, IRIS engines, won a $100,000 investment prize from venture firm Draper Fisher Jurvetson.[12][13] The IRIS Engine also won numerous other awards, including in NASA's annual "Create the Future" design competition,[14] ConocoPhillips' Energy Prize competition,[15] and several university sponsored competitions.[11][16]
The engine uses the walls of the chamber as a working surface, rather than the floor of the chamber, and in turn increases its working surface area from about 25% to more than 70%.[12][11] Levi holds multiple U.S. and international patents for the IRIS design.
He served as a Special Advisor for Policy and International Affairs at the Department of Energy and chaired the Department's Autonomous and Connected Vehicles Energy Working Group.[9] His is currently a Jeff and Cal Leonard Fellow at the New America Foundation and Managing Partner at Valence Strategic, LLC.[9]
The Great Race: The Global Quest For The Car Of The Future
Tillemann's book, published in 2015 by Simon & Schuster, explains the $2 trillion global automotive industry and the competition between the U.S., Japan, and China to create the next generation of automobiles.[17][18] He argues that strategic government policy plays a critical role in car development.[17][19][20]