General Wesley Clark Joins Verterra Energy

St. Paul, MN — Verterra Energy Inc, a Minnesota-based developer of modular hydrokinetic energy systems, is honored to announce General Wesley Clark (Ret.), former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, has joined its Board of Advisors.   

General Wesley Clark (Ret.)

“I’ve admired General Clark for decades,” said Verterra Founder and CEO Ted Christopher. “He has been a leading global voice on the idea that energy is security; and his ability to get big things done in a complex world is profound.” 

General Wesley Clark’s distinguished career began at West Point and continued with a Rhodes Scholarship to the University of Oxford. He earned the Silver Star for valor during combat operations in the Vietnam War and rose through the ranks of U.S. military leadership, ultimately serving as Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) of NATO from 1997 to 2000. In that role, he led the successful allied campaign during the Kosovo War and directed complex multinational operations across the continent. Following his military service, General Clark has been an influential voice in global security, energy innovation, and public affairs—frequently appearing as a commentator, advisor, and even actor in documentary and film projects that reflect his commitment to public service.

General Clark toured Verterra’s R&D and production facility in the Twin Cities, engaged with company leadership and engineers, and received a detailed briefing on the current research and development efforts behind the Volturnus platform—a rugged, submersible, and fuel-free power system engineered to deliver energy in contested, off-grid, and austere environments. 

His visit comes at a pivotal time, as the Department of Defense continues to elevate operational energy and contested logistics as top modernization priorities. With active DoD contracts, field-tested prototypes, and a growing manufacturing footprint, Verterra represents a rare convergence of national security relevance and domestic production capacity. 

"I believe Verterra is going to be the Microsoft of Waterpower,” said General Clark. “Ted and his impressive team are building energy systems that can support critical operations now and expand what we can do in the future; and they’re doing it in a way that strengthens America’s industrial base. It’s exactly the kind of innovation we should be backing right now.” 

Wes Jr., General Clark and Ted Christopher at Verterra's Headquarters

Verterra is on a mission to harness the power of flowing water in rivers, oceans and canals to produce abundant, reliable power.

Volturnus is a vertical axis turbine that uniquely harnesses the power of flowing water by combining the working principles of centrifugal pumps & hydrofoils with a rugged, hydrodynamic design. Similar to an underwater 3D weather vane, VOLTURNUS works in harmony with the current to dynamically adjust once deployed. When installed in modular arrays, the technology creates scalable, continuous power from small, 100 watt backpack scale, up to multi-MW arrays.

Based in St. Paul, MN Verterra is funded by mission driven investors and a multi-year DoD contract to commercialize the technology for multiple applications.

Phone: 651-315-8884

Website: www.verterraenergy.com