US Battery Independence Gets a Jolt as CATL Veteran Joins EnPower Board

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – June 18, 2026 – In a move that reverberates through the global energy storage landscape, EnPower, Inc., a domestic manufacturer of high-performance lithium-ion cells, has appointed battery industry titan Bob Galyen to its Board of Directors. Galyen, the former Chief Technology Officer of Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL), the world's largest battery producer, brings a level of manufacturing expertise that is rare outside of Asia. The appointment is a clear signal of EnPower's aggressive strategy to not only build a domestic supply chain but to import the critical know-how required to compete on a global scale, particularly in sectors vital to national security.

A Strategic Transfer of Manufacturing Know-How

Bob Galyen is one of the most accomplished figures in the battery industry. His 48-year career is a chronicle of the evolution of energy storage, with foundational tenures at General Motors, Delphi, and Magna International before his pivotal 8-year role as CTO at CATL. During his time there, he was a central architect of the manufacturing discipline and scale that propelled the Chinese company from a promising upstart to the undisputed global leader. His influence is so profound that in 2025, he was honored with the Benchmark Lifetime Achievement Award for his role in shaping modern battery innovation, and he has also been recognized by the Chinese Government as a National Distinguished Expert.

For EnPower, Galyen’s appointment is less a symbolic victory and more a practical infusion of deep operational wisdom. Western battery companies have historically excelled at lab-scale innovation but have often faltered in the notoriously difficult transition to high-yield, high-volume manufacturing. Galyen’s expertise is precisely in bridging that gap.

"Bob has lived the full journey from cell technology development to high-yield, high-volume manufacturing at the largest scale the industry has ever seen," said Adrian Yao, Founder and CEO of EnPower. "We're building EnPower to become the most important battery company outside of Asia, which relies on that same technological pragmatism and manufacturing discipline. Instead of importing the supply chain, we are importing the know-how on what it takes, and we're eager to learn from Bob."

Bolstering America's Defense-Critical Supply Chain

The strategic importance of this appointment is magnified by the geopolitical context. The United States' heavy reliance on foreign nations, particularly China, for battery components and finished cells has been identified as a critical vulnerability. This dependency poses a direct risk to national security, potentially disrupting supply chains for everything from soldier-portable communications to advanced uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) and guided munitions.

The Department of Defense (DoD) has responded with initiatives like the 2023–2030 Lithium-Battery Strategy, explicitly designed to foster a secure domestic and allied industrial base. EnPower is positioning itself at the nexus of this strategic imperative. The company’s focus is not on the mass-market electric vehicle space but on high-performance applications for defense, aerospace, and critical infrastructure, where trusted sourcing and superior performance command a premium.

To this end, the Indianapolis-based manufacturer is already making significant strides. In January 2026, it announced a strategic investment in automated assembly lines to boost its annual cell capacity by 60 MWh, specifically for the UAV and defense markets. This is complemented by a partnership with Anthro Energy to scale domestic manufacturing for defense and robotics, targeting cells that exceed 350 Wh/kg—a key performance metric for advanced applications. Galyen's guidance will be instrumental in ensuring these expansions are not just about adding capacity, but about achieving the world-class quality and yield necessary to supply the nation's most critical systems.

From Renderings to Reality: The 'Powder-to-Cell' Play

What sets EnPower apart in a field crowded with ambitious slide decks is its tangible manufacturing footprint. The company operates a 92,000-square-foot facility in Indianapolis with an end-to-end, powder-to-cell production line. This physical infrastructure is the foundation upon which Galyen's manufacturing philosophy can be built.

This commitment to concrete progress is what attracted significant backing from Executive Chairman Clint Carlson, who also serves as President and CIO of Carlson Capital LP. Having personally invested over $50 million, Carlson emphasized the company's practical approach.

"EnPower is the rare battery company that is building real domestic manufacturing capability with equipment on the ground instead of renderings on a slide," said Carlson. "We are delighted to welcome Bob to the board as we supercharge our ability to make in America." While acknowledging that initial production timelines were ambitious and required adjustments for product optimization, Carlson’s substantial private investment—which appears to far exceed figures reported by some public data aggregators—underscores a deep-seated confidence in the company’s long-term strategy.

A Homecoming to a Familiar Factory

For Galyen, joining EnPower's board carries a personal significance that adds a compelling human-interest layer to the strategic business move. The facility EnPower now calls home, formerly the headquarters of another battery manufacturer, EnerDel Inc., is one Galyen knows intimately.

"On a personal note, walking into EnPower's Indianapolis facility carries a special meaning for me — I had the privilege of helping design that building many years ago, and it is a remarkable full-circle moment to now serve the company that calls it home," Galyen shared.

This full-circle journey, from designing a battery plant in America's heartland to returning decades later to guide its new tenant toward becoming a pillar of national security, encapsulates the broader narrative at play. It’s a story of revitalization, of repatriating critical expertise, and of recommitting to a domestic industrial base. As Galyen himself noted, his goal is to contribute the perspective gained over decades to not only guide EnPower's next chapter but to directly assist U.S. national security interests. His appointment is a powerful testament to the idea that securing America's future energy independence requires not just innovation, but the seasoned wisdom to turn that innovation into reality.