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APELC Strengthens Pulsed Power Expertise with Two Key Hires

APELC, a leading innovator in pulsed power and electromagnetic systems, adds Dr. Austin Hewitt and David M. Johns to its growing engineering team. These strategic hires underscore APELC’s commitment to advancing pulsed power technology and delivering exceptional solutions to its clients.

 

Dr. Austin Hewitt joins APELC as an Electrical Engineer, bringing a wealth of experience in research and development, particularly in the fields of pulsed power, power electronics, and high-voltage systems. Dr. Hewitt holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Texas Tech University, where his research focused on electromagnetic interactions and thermal behavior in microwave environments. He has extensive expertise in energetic materials, microwave technologies, and lightning attachment. Recently, Dr. Hewitt established Quanta Pulse Technologies LLC to develop and commercialize off-the-shelf products for pulsed power and power electronics. Prior to joining APELC, he worked in Texas Tech’s Pulsed Power and Power Electronics Research Lab, conducting experiments on explosives, photoconductive semiconductors, lightning-induced electromagnetic interference, and high-power microwave sources. At APELC, Dr. Hewitt looks forward to applying his broad engineering knowledge to help tackle complex engineering challenges and explore new commercial opportunities in pulsed power.

 

“Dr. Hewitt’s impressive background in pulsed power research and development makes him a valuable asset to our team,” said Jon Mayes, CEO, at APELC. “His ability to translate research into practical applications will be instrumental in propelling our product development efforts.”

 

David M. Johns joins APELC as a Senior Electrical Engineer with 27 years of experience in power electronics design, systems engineering, and project management. He began his career in 1998 at Cymer Laser, designing high-voltage power supplies and pulsed resonant chargers for excimer lasers. Mr. Johns later worked at Kaiser Systems, designing custom power converters for industrial, medical, and semiconductor applications. After Excelitas acquired Kaiser, he led a 14-engineer team. In 2016, he joined Ideal Power, where he led the development of a 30 kW, 3-port bidirectional AC-DC-DC converter. Most recently, at Enphase Energy, he managed a hardware team in the U.S. and India to develop the IQ PowerPack 1500 portable energy system. Mr. Johns holds six patents, including one for a 12 kV LC vector inversion Marx bank.

 

“David’s extensive experience in power electronics design and project management makes him a perfect fit for our team,” said Jon Mayes, CEO, at APELC. “His leadership skills and deep understanding of high-voltage systems will be crucial as we continue to deliver industry-leading solutions to our customers.”

 

These strategic hires reflect APELC’s ongoing commitment to providing the highest quality products and services to its customers. In 2025, we’re focused on increased efficiency, faster turnaround times, and an even better experience for our valued customers. The addition of Dr. Hewitt and Mr. Johns to our team will play a crucial role in achieving these objectives.

 

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