gridCONNEXT 2025

Adnan Chaudhry is a seasoned professional in the energy sector, currently serving as the Senior Vice President of Digital Grid at Siemens Energy. With over 16 years of experience at Siemens, Adnan has held various leadership roles, including Vice President of Grid Automation Technology and Head of Control & Protection Engineering for Transmission Solutions. Adnan’s career began with a technical apprenticeship at RWE AG, where he gained experience in power transmission and distribution. He later worked as a student worker focusing on technical procurement support, and as a research assistant in a material science lab focusing on semiconductor investigations. Adnan holds a Diplom-Ingenieur degree in Electrical Engineering from Aachen University of Applied Sciences and a Master of Arts in Organizational and Human Resource Development from FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg. His expertise spans HVDC transmission solutions, grid automation, and digitalization, making him a key player in shaping the future of energy grids

The Honorable Bradley R. Crowell was sworn in as a Commissioner of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on August 26, 2022, and is serving the remainder of a five-year term ending June 30, 2027.

Most recently, Commissioner Crowell served as Director of the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, first appointed in 2016 by former Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval and was reappointed by Gov. Steve Sisolak in 2019. At DCNR, he led approximately 1,000 employees across eight divisions with a nearly $300 million biennial budget.

Commissioner Crowell has more than 20 years of experience in the fields of energy, environment, natural resources, climate change, and national security, including executive leadership positions in federal and state government. He previously worked for multiple Members of Congress, including former Nevada Gov. and Sen. Richard Bryan (D-NV) and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).

Commissioner Crowell served in the Obama-Biden Administration at the U.S. Department of Energy from 2010 to 2016 and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2013 as the Assistant Secretary of Energy for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs.

Crowell is a native of Carson City, Nevada and graduated from Santa Clara University, in Santa Clara California with a B.S. degree in Political Science.

Mark A. Gabriel, United Power’s President and CEO, is a 25-year veteran in the electric utility business. Prior to joining United Power, he served as the Administrator and Chief Executive Officer of the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) for eight years, which is part of the Department of Energy. In this role, Gabriel managed the nonprofit federal organization, marketing and delivering low-cost federal hydropower from 57 hydroelectric plants to nearly 700 wholesale customers across 15 states.

Over his career Gabriel served in numerous positions in the industry, including executive roles at Black and Veatch Management Consulting, which develops energy solutions in the areas of electricity, water, oil and gas, and cybersecurity; and the Electric Power Research Institute where he served as acting president for EPRI Traditional and Client Relations, and as the Global Marketing Officer. While at EPRI, he led the nationwide collaborative effort known as the Electricity Sector Framework for the Future.

Gabriel is a popular speaker and award-winning author. His book, Visions for a Sustainable Energy Future, won the 2009 Indie Excellence Book Award for environmental writing. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Fordham University in New York and completed the coursework for a Master of Science in administration and management from St. Michael’s College in Burlington, Vermont.