Darren graduated with honors from Princeton University with a B.S.E. in Computer Science in June 2001, where he studied Human-Computer Interface Technology, Algorithms, Advanced Programming Techniques, and Macro- and Micro-economics. Darren was a runner-up for the Donald Janssen Dike Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research, and won 1st Place in the 2001 Princeton University Business Plan Contest with the team that founded Princeton Power Systems. Darren served as President & CEO from 2001-2009, and is now Executive Vice President of Business Development, Marketing, and Sales and on the Board of Directors.

Princeton Power designs and manufactures advanced electric power conversion equipment for solar energy, wind turbines, industrial control, and military applications. The company’s customers include NASA, the US Air Force, Navy, Department of Energy, Rolls-Royce, EPV Solar, and Siemens. PPS was named the “Early Stage Company of the Year” in 2005 by the New Jersey Technology Council and a finalist for the NJBIZ Emerging Company of the Year in 2006. It was inducted into the NJTC Technology Hall of Fame later that year.

PPS is a profitable company whose advanced products are helping to facilitate the transition to distributed generation, energy efficiency, and alternative energy sources.

Darren was named as one of Red Herring Magazine’s “Young Moguls” in 2005, and NJ-BIZ’ “Forty Under 40” business leaders in New Jersey the same year. He is a member of the State of New Jersey’s Clean Energy/Clean Technology Industry Workforce Advisory Council, a Founding Trustee of the New Jersey Solar Industry Manufacturer’s Association (NJSIMA) and has made 14 consecutive guest lecture appearances in Princeton University’s High-Tech Entrepreneurship class taught by Dr. Ed Zschau.

Special Projects

1. Mr. Hammell led the team that designed a fully-standalone multi-megawatt renewable energy system for the Star Island Bahamas Resort in Eleuthera, Bahamas in 2008.
2. Mr. Hammell led the design of a complete home renewable energy and backup demonstration, including a wind turbine, solar array, and battery system in Bermuda in 2007.