Academic Credentials
  • Masters, Strategic Studies, US Army War College, 2017
  • Ph.D., Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, 2011
  • M.S., Materials Engineering, New Mexico Inst. of Mining and Technology, 1996
  • B.S., Materials Engineering, New Mexico Inst. of Mining and Technology, 1991
Professional Honors
  • 2003 R&D Award for Flexible Superconducting Tape, Los Alamos National Laboratory
  • 1997 Los Alamos Award for Excellence in Technology Transfer for Partnership Development Activity, Los Alamos NationalLaboratory
  • 1996 Award for Excellence in Industrial Partnerships, Los Alamos National Laboratory
  • 1991 Ashman Award for Materials Science, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
  • 1989 Alpha Sigma Mu National Materials Science Honors Society
  • 1988 Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Honor Society
Professional Affiliations
  • Member – ASTM International (2022)
  • Member – International Council on Systems Engineering (2022)
  • Member – American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) (2012 – Present)
  • Member – Materials Research Society (MRS) (1996 – Present)

Dr. Groves holds academic degrees in Materials Science and Engineering and is an Expert Systems Engineer Professional.

Dr. Groves is a senior leader and materials scientist with over 30 years of experience in defense, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing. He offers clients deep technical expertise in materials science, engineering, and innovation strategy. He serves defense agencies, semiconductor manufacturers, and technology startups, helping them develop cutting-edge solutions and navigate complex R&D challenges. Dr. Groves has a wide variety of industry experience from his work prior to joining Exponent, including founding and leading companies. This includes leading and driving materials innovation under the $1B EDITS contract, optimizing dielectric etch processes for high-volume analog ICs, and pioneering low-cost 3D metal printing.
 
Dr. Groves has extensive expertise in materials science and engineering, with a strong focus on thin film deposition, materials characterization, and vacuum system design. His work spans national laboratories, academic research, and startup environments, where he has applied advanced techniques such as ion beam assisted deposition (IBAD), sputtering (including magnetron and ion beam sputtering), electron beam evaporation, laser ablation, and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) methods including flash evaporation and solid/liquid source processing. He has characterized materials using a wide array of tools including X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS), secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM/TEM), mechanical profilometry, and reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED). His engineering work includes designing and building custom deposition systems, rebuilding scientific equipment, and modifying vacuum chambers. He has also developed in-situ, thin film growth measurement devices integrating mass accumulation monitoring (Quartz-Crystal Microbalance) with RHEED imaging. His research has contributed to the development of high-temperature superconducting tapes, photovoltaic absorber layers, hydrogen storage nanoparticles, and wear-resistant coatings.
 
In addition to his science and engineering background, Dr. Groves is an Army Reserve Veteran with a 30-year career culminating in his role as Colonel and Director of Human Capital at the Army Reserve Innovation Command. He led strategic initiatives to identify and implement emerging technologies in support of Army Futures Command, overseeing a brigade-equivalent unit and coordinating innovation efforts across five city teams for the Army Reserve's 75th Innovation Command. His leadership extended to deployments in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait, where he managed engineering operations, including a $180M base construction project and the deconstruction of 17 forward operating bases. He has been an Engineer Brigade Commander and Engineer Battalion Commander; both as combat tours. His service earned him prestigious honors including the Legion of Merit and Bronze Star Medal. Throughout his military career, Randy demonstrated expertise in leadership, strategic planning, organizational development, and engineering force integration, consistently driving mission success and modernization across the Army enterprise.