Robert J. Freitas, is President and Founder of Sundial Energy, Inc., a solar and LED lighting company providing primarily off-grid solutions for commercial and institutional customers. Sundial Energy currently is engaged in research in renewably powered emergency back-up systems focused on critical network nodes. Bob served 19 years as Cooperative Extension faculty with the University of Arizona (UofA), Department of Ag. & Biosystems Engineering Department, before taking an early retirement to start Sundial Energy. At the UofA, as Principal Investigator and CO-PI, he brought in multi-million dollar research grants and directed cross-disciplinary research teams focusing on large scale agriculture waste reduction and pollution prevention. Bob also served 8 years as the UofA-International Arid Land Consortium’s Project Director for a multi-university, multi-country project that involved extensive travel to the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia, organizing and leading teams of faculty members principally engaged in water and wastewater treatment, water and natural resources conservation. Prior to joining the UofA, Bob managed and led teams of development professionals in various African countries in start-up through full implementation of projects funded by USAID, multi-lateral donors and private foundations. Prior to this, Bob began his overseas career in Latin America and Africa with Peace Corps as an agricultural extension agent. Before becoming involved in international development work, Bob worked as an AZ State Senate staff member (Natural Resources Committee) and for the AZ Association of Counties. Bob holds an MS in Watershed Management/Hydrology, a BA in History/Political Science, is married with three children, and resides in Tucson, Arizona.