American Battery Factory Inc. (ABF), a battery manufacturer working toward the development of a network of lithium iron phosphate battery cell factories in the United States, has announced the appointment of John S. Kem, a former major general in the U.S. Army, as president. He joins recently appointed CEO Jim Ge as leaders of the company.
Kem’s 35-year Army career spanned numerous positions, including commanding the Europe District and the Northwestern Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He also held key positions at the Pentagon, as well as with international organizations. He also served as the commandant of the U.S. Army War College.
“At the forefront of ABF’s vision is to serve safe, reliable and efficient energy to a variety of markets, including data centers, telecommunications and cellular networks, healthcare providers, municipalities, the U.S. military and more,” said Kem. “I am honored to join the company in this capacity and to help fulfill this vision of making energy independence a reality for the United States. Together, we will create solutions for the most complex energy transition issues the world has ever faced.”
“We are building and attracting a world-class management team, workforce and strategic partner network, and having John Kem join our company as president is the culmination of these efforts,” said Ge. “With his invaluable experience, we will navigate the development of the first network of LFP battery cell gigafactories in the country. ABF will continue to bring together entrepreneurs and scientific experts to enhance an unrivaled foundation for the most innovative battery cells for energy storage solutions.”
ABF is beginning the first phase of development on its “Gigafactory” in Tucson, Arizona, with plans to break ground within the next few months. The site will be the country’s largest factory to produce LFP battery cells, the company said.