The Faces in Photonics series shines a light on experts from all over the world whose work is reshaping the optics and photonics industry.
Here, we feature Walter Burgess, co-CEO of Power Technology, a 25-year photonics and optics industry veteran.
Justine Murphy: What attracted you to photonics and optics?
Walter Burgess: For as long as I can remember, photonics and optics have been a constant in my life. Power Technology is one of the oldest photonics companies in the U.S. My father, Tom Burgess, started this company in 1969 on his kitchen table in my childhood home and started the path to what it has become today. I have enjoyed “growing up” in the industry and am passionate about its impact on the world.
JM: What do you enjoy about the industry, and what do you find challenging?
WB: I really like watching the industry evolve in new and exciting ways. We are constantly making technology advances in developing new photonics innovations and discovering uses for them in more applications every day. In that spirit, we challenge ourselves to bring new innovations to the market that impact the world.
Whether we are talking about medical, defense, autonomous systems, mixed reality, or quantum technology applications, it is an exciting time to be in a profession that intimately affects all of our daily lives.
JM: What are you working on now?
WB: Over the last few years, I have been working on a personal goal to become a more effective communicator. I recognize that Power Technology is not only an important member in the photonics community, but also has a strong voice in our state’s business community.
As a leader in our company, I want to represent our industry as effectively as possible and demonstrate to the people of Arkansas how we fit in the larger photonics community that greatly improves lives throughout the world.
