Terrence Murphy

Terrence Murphy

Chairman and Advisor 
Hammond Group, Inc.

 

 


 

 

 


Area of interests for collaboration and/or mentorship:

  • Rocket Propulsion and Space Power Systems
  • Terrestrial Solar Power
  • Energy Storage Systems
  • Technology Transfer, Venture Capital, Acquisitions and Start-ups

Terry Murphy is Chairman and Advisor to the Hammond Group. He joined their board of directors in 2011 and was CEO from 2013 to 2024. He transformed the group's strategic focus to energy storage, spun out two divisions unrelated to this emerging sector, converted an abandoned facility into a High-Tech R&D center for battery technology, and established a new production plant for the battery additives business. Since then, Hammond has twice won the Battery Council Innovation Award and continues to focus on innovative chemistries that have enhanced the capability and expanded the application of lead batteries. Terry also spearheaded the transition to an Employee-Owned (ESOP) company, rewarding multigenerational families who have dedicated their careers to the company.

Prior to joining Hammond, Murphy spent over 25 years in aerospace and held senior executive positions at Rocketdyne where his Advanced Programs organization not only produced rocket engines and power systems for deep space exploration, including the DOE nuclear thermoelectric system, which powers the Mars rovers. He also leveraged the organization’s core competencies into clean, renewable, and sustainable energy systems for terrestrial applications and was the founding CEO of SolarReserve, a concentrated solar power facility with 500 megawatts of thermal capacity.
 
Murphy earned his master’s in systems management from USC and an astronautical engineering degree from Purdue. He was recognized by the Astronaut Corps with a Silver Snoopy Award, is an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, a recipient of the Purdue Outstanding Engineering Award from the AAE School, and Businessperson of the Year by the Northwest Indiana Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Murphy has been an advisor to private equity, holds several patents relating to rocket propulsion, space power and energy storage, and has been a guest speaker at many universities focusing on entrepreneurship and engineering.