Laura G. Petrillo-Groh

Director of Regulatory and Industry Affairs
Daikin Applied Americas 

Laura G. Petrillo-Groh is a seasoned energy and environmental policy expert passionate about accelerating the transition to clean, efficient, and climate-resilient buildings. A proud University of Maryland Mechanical Engineering graduate and licensed Professional Engineer in California, Laura combines deep technical expertise, strategic thinking, and collaborative leadership to accelerate decarbonization in the built environment. She spent 15 years at a national trade association shaping energy policy, regulations, codes, and standards, and now serves as Director of Regulatory and Industry Affairs at Daikin Applied Americas. Laura leads initiatives to align business goals with evolving environmental regulations, decarbonization efforts, and clean energy strategies. In her free time, Laura is the mom to two amazing kids, enjoys outdoor activities, and is pursuing a Master’s in Energy Policy and Climate at Johns Hopkins University.

April 24, 2025 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m Room 3106 Martin Hall	RSVP HERE
Sponsored by

Julia Filiberti Allen

Dr. Julia Filiberti Allen serves as Chief Technology Officer for Saab, Inc., a wholly owned US subsidiary of the leading Swedish defense and security company with an enduring mission to help nations keep their people and society safe. As part of the Chief Strategy Office, she is responsible for research community engagement, the development of the overall Saab Inc. technical strategy, and the prioritization and achievement of the company’s research and development objectives, specifically focused on the introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and Autonomous Systems across the portfolio.

Dr. Allen is a graduate of the University of Maryland (Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering), The Johns Hopkins University (M.S., Applied and Computational Mathematics), and Dickinson College (B.S., Mathematics). She concurrently serves as an Adjunct Professor at Purdue University in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Sponsored by

Jason Spicer

Sarah Gallareta

When Sarah Gallareta graduated from the University of Maryland in 2008 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, she never imagined that her first job would spark a lifelong passion for construction. As a project engineer on a cutting-edge Biomedical Research Laboratory, she quickly became fascinated by the complexity and innovation required in the field. Now a lead project manager, Sarah specializes in science + technology and mission critical facilities, leading teams through challenging projects for high-profile clients. She thrives on turning complex ideas into reality and ensuring every project runs smoothly from concept to completion.

Brendan McNelly

Senior Engineering Manager
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab (JHU/APL)

Mr. McNelly is a Senior Engineering Manager at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab (JHU/APL).  He focuses on bringing together expertise from across the organization to tackle critical engineering challenges.  While working at JHU/APL he continues to pursue academic passions in the maritime robotics field and has obtained higher degrees from Penn State (M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, 2015) and Johns Hopkins University (M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering, 2019, and Eng.D. in Mechanical Engineering and Robotics, 2023). Brendan has over a dozen academic publications related to robotics and autonomous underwater vehicles that span journals, conferences, and patents, and has received both Outstanding Speaker and Technical Paper Awards.

March 13, 2025 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m Room 3106 Martin Hall	RSVP HERE
Sponsored by

Donna Williams

Senior Project Manager
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Ms. Williams joined the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in 1990 and has held positions as a project manager for both operating and new reactors, technical assistant to the Office of New Reactors, and technical branch chief.  She currently is a senior Project Manager in the Advanced Reactor Licensing Branch.  In this position, she manages the review of license applications for advanced reactor designs and leads the NRC’s collaborative advanced reactor review activities with the nuclear regulatory agencies of Canada and the UK.  Ms. Williams graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland.

March 06, 2025 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m Room 3106 Martin Hall	RSVP HERE
Sponsored by

Event Contact

For more information about this event, or to find out how you can engage with our students as a guest speaker, complete our Alumni Interest Form, or contact:

Kenny Newberry