Dr. Alexander, VP Government & Defense, leads 5N’s U.S. Space and Defense business. Products include germanium substrates for space solar power and CdZnTe (CZT) for early missile warning systems. Defense products also include InSb and GaSb substrates used for military aircraft sensor platforms (night vision). Over the past decade 5N Plus has delivered nearly 1 MW of space power substrates to U.S. space solar cell customers and is a key part of our US defense industrial base ecosystem.
Dr. Alexander provides the principal interface to senior U.S. Government personnel, oversees program execution, provides oversight for CZT development, and helps ensure that 5N Plus is a reliable domestic supplier of critical materials and semiconductor technologies to support national security, commercial space, and U.S. defense industrial base needs. In 2020, Dr. Alexander was instrumental in winning a $10M DPA Title III program and in 2024, a $14.4M DPA Title III. Additional 2024 program wins include $3.4M and $1.5M for space related semiconductors.
Prior to this position, Dr. Alexander served as the General Manager for the St. George location, formerly known as Sylarus Technologies, where he led the business from early stage until its 2014 acquisition by 5N Plus. He hired top technical talent and implemented Six Sigma and technical know-how processes to improve product performance and quality. Dr. Alexander continued to serve as GM until moving to Corporate Development in 2018.
Dr. Alexander started his career in industry manufacturing silicon at MEMC Electronic Materials when 12-inch wafers were still under development. Dr. Alexander held leadership roles at Uniroyal Optoelectronics, ATMI, and Greene, Tweed & Co. developing LEDs, polymers, and materials for the semiconductor market. Dr. Alexander has more than 30 publications and 3 patents.
Dr. Alexander received his B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Materials Science & Engineering from the University of Florida and completed his postdoctoral research in wide bandgap semiconductors at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. Dr. Alexander is a U.S. Air Force veteran.
