James Fritz

Jim Fritz is the Senior Vice President, Federal and Strategic Program Development for SRI, a leading research and development organization focused on creating and delivering solutions for a safer, healthier, and more sustainable future. In this role, Fritz leads strategy and business development for all of SRI’s federal and emerging programs. Fritz joined SRI in February, 2024.

Fritz brings extensive experience as a corporate R&D executive, and was most recently a Senior Advisor in the U.S. Department of Energy. Fritz previously led global operations for the United Technologies Research Center, and has established international research centers and led strategy and partnership development for a wide range of aerospace and commercial programs. He is an active angel investor as a partner in the Clean Energy Venture Group and is a member of the Angel Investor Forum.

Early in his career Fritz led marketing and strategy development for Ensign-Bickford Aerospace and Defense, a leading producer of mission critical explosive systems. He started his career at Hamilton Standard (now Collins Aerospace) as a structural analyst for manned space flight programs.

Fritz has previously served on the Ventures and Incubator Advisory Board for the University of Connecticut, and was the founding Chairman of the International Energy Research Centre in Cork, Ireland. He is an Associate Fellow of the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics, and has been awarded nine U.S. patents. Fritz holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s in business administration from the University of Connecticut, and also holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.