Philip Lacovara was born and raised in Washington, DC. After earning a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Chicago he went to work at the US Naval Research Laboratory, in Washington, DC, developing new solid-state lasers for electro-optical countermeasures applications. In 1987 he joined MIT Lincoln Laboratory in Lexington, MA, as a member of the technical staff. At Lincoln Laboratory he worked under Navy sponsorship on the development of ground- and space-based lidar systems for the Strategic Defense Initiative, radiation hardening of lidar components, and new blue-green solid-state laser sources. While at Lincoln Laboratory he earned a Ph.D. in Physics from Boston College. In 1992 he joined Kaman Aerospace Corporation’s Electro-Optics Development Center in Tucson, Arizona, where he served as an Optical Scientist, Program Manager, and Director of Program Development. In 1998 he joined Breault Research Organization, Inc., as Vice President of Engineering Services. He 2001 he founded Ambalux Corporation to develop optical sensor and communications products, and in 2009 he founded Solar Ventures, LLC and Industrial Solar, LLC to advance applications of renewable energy. In 2014 Dr. Lacovara sold the intellectual property of Ambalux Corporation and founded UltraMarine EO, LLC to provide consulting services in undersea optical technology and renewable energy. Since 2022 he has been cofounder and Chief Operating Officer of CarbeniumTec LLC, which is commercializing an innovative organic battery technology developed at the University of Arizona. Dr. Lacovara is a member of the Optical Society of America and a Life Member of the US Naval Institute. He is a Commercialization Partner with TechLaunch Arizona, with a particular focus on the physical sciences, green energy and optical communications. He has served on multiple non-profit boards, including the Steele Children’s Research Center, the Dean's Advisory Board for the College of Science at the University of Arizona and the Board of Directors of Salpointe Catholic High School. Dr. Lacovara is married to the former Jane Elizabeth Winans of Sterling, IL, and has three grown children and four grandchildren.