Joshua Comden

Joshua Comden serves as a Researcher III at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) within the Energy System Control and Optimization group, focusing on Power Systems Engineering and Grid Modernization. His work develops optimal control schemes for distributed energy resources to enhance power grid resilience through real-time decision-making frameworks.

His academic credentials include:

• PhD in Applied Mathematics and Statistics – Operations Research from Stony Brook University
• Master’s in Applied Mathematics and Statistics – Operations Research from Stony Brook University
• Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering from the University of Delaware

Comden’s research integrates operations research with power engineering, specializing in online and distributed optimization/control of power systems. His fellowship training in decision support enables effective translation of complex models for grid operators, addressing challenges in voltage regulation, microgrid management, and incentive design under uncertainty.

Recent publications reveal accelerating impact in microgrid energy management, distributionally robust optimization, and grid-forming inverter control, with 17 outputs since 2023 demonstrating growing influence in power systems modernization.

His recognition includes:

• Woo Jong Kim Dissertation Award (2020)

Comden actively contributes to professional communities through memberships in the IEEE Control Systems Society, IEEE Power and Energy Society, and the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS), fostering cross-sector collaboration in energy systems research.

At NREL, he operates within the Energy System Control and Optimization group, advancing control algorithms for distributed energy integration while collaborating with national labs and industry partners on grid resilience initiatives.