Speakers
Derek Gaston, Director of Artificial Intelligence Services, X Energy
Dr. Derek Gaston is Director of AI Services at X-energy, a leading developer of small modular nuclear reactors. He brings over two decades of experience in high-performance computing, nuclear energy innovation, and advanced simulation. At X-energy, he is focused on applying AI and digital twin technologies to optimize reactor performance and accelerate clean energy deployment—particularly for data center and industrial applications. Previously, Dr. Gaston served as a Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of Energy and was the founding architect of the MOOSE simulation framework at Idaho National Laboratory. His work has earned a Presidential Early Career Award in Science and Engineering, multiple R&D 100 Awards, and over 5,000 citations in scientific literature. He is a frequent speaker on the convergence of nuclear energy, AI, and high-performance computing.