Levi Tillemann

Levi Mills Tillemann-Dick (born November 25, 1981) is an American businessman, academic, and author. Currently managing partner at Valence Strategic, LLC and a fellow at the New America Foundation, he is also the author of the 2015 book, The Great Race: The Global Quest For The Car Of The Future (Simon and Schuster). Levi was also the lead author of the report Revolution Now, which he published while working in President Barack Obama's Department of Energy.[2] He was an unsuccessful candidate in the Democratic primary in the 2018 election in Colorado's 6th congressional district.[3][4]

Levi Tillemann
Born
Levi Mills Tillemann-Dick

1981 or 1982 (age 41–42)[1]
Denver, Colorado, U.S.
EducationRegis University
Yale University (BA)
Johns Hopkins University (MA, PhD)
Occupation(s)Author, businessman
EmployerNew America Foundation

Early life and education

Tillemann's father, Timber Dick, was a businessman, inventor, and administrator at the University of Denver's School of Engineering and Computer Sciences. Timber, who was the son of Colorado's first female lieutenant governor, Nancy E. Dick, died from burn wounds following a 2008 automobile accident.[5][6] Levi, with his brothers Corban and Tomicah accepted the NASA "Create the Future" award for their work with their father on an ultra high-efficiency engine.[5]

Tillemann's mother, Annette, is a Jewish convert to Mormonism and daughter of Tom Lantos.[7] While serving on a mission, Levi left the faith when he was unable to reconcile the logical and liberal outlook his parents had instilled in him with perceived inconsistencies in church doctrine.[5]

At 15, Tillemann started college at Regis University, transferring to Yale University[7] at 16 where he graduated with honors. He then earned a PhD from Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies in Japan and China studies.[8][9] He speaks Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese and Japanese.[10]

Career

While in grad school, Tillemann served as a researcher for Pulitzer Prize-winning economic writer Daniel Yergin.[5] and, with his brother Corban, continued his father's efforts to develop radical new engine design that is much more efficient than a traditional internal combustion engine.[11] In 2009, their startup, IRIS engines, won a $100,000 investment prize from venture firm Draper Fisher Jurvetson.[11][12] The IRIS Engine also won numerous other awards, including in NASA's annual "Create the Future" design competition,[13] ConocoPhillips' Energy Prize competition,[14] and several university sponsored competitions.[10][15]

The engine uses the walls of the chamber as a working surface, rather than the floor of the chamber, and in turn increases its working surface area from about 25 percent to more than 70 percent.[11][10] Levi holds multiple U.S. and international patents for the IRIS design.

He served as a Special Advisor for Policy and International Affairs at the Department of Energy and chaired the Department's Autonomous and Connected Vehicles Energy Working Group.[8] His is currently a Jeff and Cal Leonard Fellow at the New America Foundation and Managing Partner at Valence Strategic, LLC.[8]

The Great Race: The Global Quest For The Car Of The Future

Tillemann's book, published in 2015 by Simon & Schuster, explains the $2 trillion global automotive industry and the competition between the U.S., Japan, and China to create the next generation of automobiles.[16][17] He argues that strategic government policy plays a critical role in car development.[16][18][19]

2018 U.S. House campaign

In May 2017, Tillemann announced the formation of an exploratory committee and the beginning of a listening tour to examine the feasibility of a congressional bid in Colorado's 6th congressional district.[3] After a 6-week listening tour, he officially announced his candidacy.[20]

Tillemann was endorsed by State Senator and speaker pro-tempore Rhonda Fields as well as the Denver chapter of the Progressive Democrats of America.[21][22]

In April 2018, it emerged that Congressman Steny Hoyer and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee were supporting Tillemann's opponent, corporate lawyer Jason Crow.[23] In a recorded conversation, Hoyer urged Tillemann to drop out of the race. Hoyer acknowledged that the DCCC had already identified Crow as their choice candidate and discouraged a candid discussion about his weaknesses.[23] Crow went on to win the primary and defeat Republican incumbent Mike Coffman in the general election.

References
  1. A secret recording, a Bronze Star and “The Royal Tenenbaums”. The Denver Post. 23 May 2018.
  2. "Revolution Now: The Future Arrives for Four Clean Energy Technologies" (PDF). U.S. Department of Energy. September 17, 2013.
  3. "Levi for Colorado". Archived from the original on 2017-08-01. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
  4. Brian Eason (June 28, 2017). "Levi Tillemann, Obama administration alum, set to join crowded race to unseat Mike Coffman". The Denver Post.
  5. Warner, Joel (July 8, 2008). "Denver's Own Royal Tenenbaums". Westword. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  6. Warner, Joel (April 11, 2008). "Denver inventor Dick dies after crash". The Denver Post. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  7. Rosenthal, A.M. (May 12, 2012). "A Picture of Inspiration". New York Daily News. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  8. "The Next Class of New America Fellows". NewAmerica. Archived from the original on July 4, 2014. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  9. "Hopkins Family Sets Internal Combustion on Fire". Johns Hopkins. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  10. "Startup showdown: The winners". CNNMoney. April 4, 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
  11. Reske, Henry (May 12, 2012). "A Fuel-Saving Car Engine in the Blink of an IRIS". National Geographic. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  12. "The Future of the Combustion Engine". WAMU. June 6, 2008. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  13. NASA Tech Briefs Create the Future Design Contest Archived February 8, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  15. "2009 Johns Hopkins University Business Plan Competition Winners" (PDF).
  16. "Book Discussion on The Great Race". C-Span. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
  17. "Levi Tillemann: "The Great Race: The Global Quest For The Car Of The Future"". WAMU. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  18. Greenberg, Greg (January 20, 2015). "Tesla, U.S. Leading 'Great Race' to Perfect the Car of the Future". The Street. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  19. "Levi Tillemann". Simon and Schuster. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  20. Ernest Luning (June 28, 2017). "Democrat Levi Tillemann plans to make it official — he's running in Colorado's 6th Congressional District". Colorado Politics.
  21. Luning, Ernest (March 28, 2018). "Rhonda Fields endorses Levi Tillemann in 6th Congressional District Democratic primary". Colorado Politics. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  22. "Progressive Dems backing Tillemann for CD6 race". The Aurora Sentinel. February 27, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  23. Fang, Lee (April 26, 2018). "Secretly Taped Audio Reveals Democratic Leadership Pressuring Progressive to Leave Race". The Intercept. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
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