Allen Priest

Allen Priest is an accomplished engineer with over 25 years of experience in designing mixed signal electronics and integrating sensor technology with embedded systems for various sectors, including commercial, industrial, and military applications. His expertise includes laser control electronics, covering high-power semiconductor lasers, diode-pumped solid-state lasers, and tunable quantum cascade lasers. Allen has led engineering teams through the entire New Product Introduction (NPI) process, from initial planning to full-scale manufacturing. His career includes roles at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Northrop Grumman-Cutting Edge Optronics, and co-founding Nuvonyx, where he developed high-power laser systems. Allen also worked at Ultradata Systems, McDonnell Douglas, and E-Systems. He holds an M.Sc. and B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from Washington University and was a PhD candidate at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Allen enjoys amateur astronomy and astro-imaging, volunteers at Palomar Observatory, and coaches science activities at the Cambridge School of San Diego.