Biography of Mr. Frank

Mr. Christopher L. Frank


Chris Frank was born in Chesterton Indiana. Upon graduation from Chesterton High School he worked briefly for NIPSCO at their Bailey Generating Station he then entered the Air Force as an electronics technician in the elite SR-71, Blackbird program at Beale AFB, California. After completing his military obligation Chris entered the School of Engineering at Fresno State University. While attending Fresno State, Mr. Frank began a part-time job with the plastics molding industry. As his involvement with the industry progressed, the responsibilities of his position evolved to include the management of a small custom injection-molding shop. During the same time he started the Energy Factory, a passive solar consulting firm.

He moved to Yuba City, California where, he started another solar company the Solar Utility Network and resumed his Engineering Degree studies at Sacramento State University. Chris received his Mechanical Engineering Degree and accepted a position as a designer for Houston Fearless-76, a Department of Defense (DOD) contractor supporting the SR-71 program.
At HF76 he provided mechanical design support and development for fully deployable complex of sophisticated electronic and Photo interpretive equipment. This included power generation, switchgear, and environment conditioning, structural and dynamic design.
After joining the US AIR FORCE ADVANCED COMPOSITES PROGRAM OFFICE (ACPO) in 1985, Mr. Frank supervised the installation and operation of a developmental injection molding facility for large-scale injection-molded parts.



He has also developed and taught a number of courses on injection molding and tool design for industry and the DOD. As a member of the ACPO, located at McClellan AFB, Sacramento California, Chris leads the office's thermoplastic activities.



Mr. Frank has contributed design, materials and processing expertise to the Phillips Laboratory at Edwards AFB, California, collaborating on the application of Liquid Crystal Polymers (LCP) technology to rocket motor and engine components.

He has consulted with engineers at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division at China Lake, California, to develop a plastic Short Range Anti-armor Weapon.



Chris has also worked with engineers from Eglin AFB, Florida, Armament Laboratory to design and develop molding materials and processes to reduce the mass, lower the cost, and increase the producibility of hypervelocity projectiles.

Additionally, Mr. Frank has provided consultation and training to DOD organizations during their acquisition and installation of molding equipment. He also has consulted widely throughout DOD, including, laboratories, and design groups, on engineering and technical questions relating to molding and plastics.


In 1998 Chris left public service to join VeriFone a wholly owned subsidiary of Hewlett Packard. While at VeriFone he contributed to the development of a number of products including 2 handheld wireless offerings. As a result he currently holds US Patent 6,494,366-B2



In 2006 Chris brought that spirit and insight to Golden Bear to launch this new process and company by slashing time to market and life cycle energy needs. Created a reliable, low cost manufacturing platform using off-the–shelf machinery and innovative processes.


Expanded the product line from Floor and wall tile to roof tile and countertops.

Recruited by OPEN ENERGY Corp. in 2008 to solve materials and process issues, he later created an incubator for solar product development and manufacturing processes.



Managed daily operations and staff of 14 The company was reorganized in 2009 and changed its name to APPLIED SOLAR LLC.



Chris teamed R&D with, manufacturing, and field trainers on translating unproven technologies into marketable, high margin products.

Revamped both manufacturing and product designs for efficient production volume and ultimately off-shore manufacture.
Steered products through UL, CSA, and INTERTECK testing and certification processes.
Freed capital for investment in R&D by negotiating licensing/ manufacturing agreement for Solarsave’s BIPV and Commercial Membrane products with North American distribution partner.
Captured patentable Intellectual Properties for submission. Currently holds 3 patent submissions.

Mr. Frank has authored a number of papers for the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) and an article for AEROSPACE COMPOSITES AND MATERIALS MAGAZINE on Air Force injection-molding efforts. In 1991, he received the Outstanding Productivity Civilian of the Year Award from General McDonald, then Commander, of the Air Force Logistics Command. He has been named in WHO'S WHO IN THE WEST AND WHO'S WHO IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING, Chris is active in various advisory capacities within SME and as a consulting member of COMMITTEE H, ELECTRONIC MATERIALS AND APPLICATIONS Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). Mr. Frank is also a member of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).

Chris lives in Rough and Ready, California with his wife Deborah He spends most of his free time sailing with his family.