Most people think clean energy is about technology.
It is not. Or at least not only that.
It is about who understands systems, who can navigate policy, and who can bring unlikely groups into the same room.
In this episode of Project Vanguard, I talk with Michael Dunn, a veteran who stumbled into clean energy through necessity, curiosity, and a relentless habit of saying yes.
Michael did not set out to work in policy or markets.
He joined the military to pay for school.
He entered consulting to find direction.
He moved into clean energy because it was one of the few spaces where mission, economics, and national security intersect.
Along the way, he discovered something most energy conversations miss:
Power does not shift because of slogans.
It shifts because of coordination.
The conversation explores why veterans are uniquely positioned to influence the energy transition, how policy quietly shapes every market decision, and why coalition building may be more important than any single technology.
At its core, this episode is not about career advice or clean energy optimism.
It is about leverage.
Who has it.
How it is built.
And why the next decade of energy will be shaped less by engineers and more by people who understand how systems actually move.
If you want to understand how power really flows through the energy industry, this episode is worth your time.
Timestamps
00:05 – Why Veterans Matter in Energy
02:20 – Michael’s Entry into Energy Policy
03:20 – CELI and Fellowship Opportunities
05:20 – Working at Qcells, Policy in Practice
07:22 – Coalition Building in DC
12:00 – Dropping Out and Enlisting
14:26 – Military as Social Mobility
16:06 – Education While Serving
18:12 – Georgetown MBA to Energy Career
22:33 – Atlantic Council and Strategic Focus
27:50 – Advice for Veterans Breaking In
30:00 – Using Project Vanguard Effectively
34:57 – Closing Thoughts and Call to Action
Resources
Guest & Company
Topics Discussed
LG Energy Solution signs contract with Hanwha QCells to supply 5GWh ESS battery
CELI - The Clean Energy Leadership Institute
