Thursday 6th August 2026 – First Light Fusion is delighted to announce the promotion of Dr. Jonathan Skidmore to the role of Chief Scientist. Jonathan is an experimental physicist with broad experience across high energy density physics and inertial fusion.
Before joining First Light Fusion, he completed a PhD in Plasma Physics at Imperial College London and subsequently joined the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), where he worked on experimental programmes conducted at major UK and US research facilities. This experience provided a strong foundation for his leadership in inertial fusion research and technology development.
For more than a decade at First Light Fusion, Jonathan has been at the forefront of the Company’s scientific and technical progress. He has led experimental campaigns, built strategic collaborations with national laboratories, and most recently guided the creation of the FLARE fusion concept. His deep technical expertise, collaborative leadership and commitment to scientific excellence have helped shape First Light’s innovation strategy and position the Company at the forefront of fusion energy development.
In his new role as Chief Scientist, Jonathan will lead First Light’s scientific vision across theory, modelling, target design, and experimental programmes. He will focus on advancing FLARE, bringing together expertise from across the organisation to establish its physics basis, deliver key technical milestones, and create a clear and credible route to practical fusion energy.
Mark Thomas, Chief Executive Officer at First Light Fusion, said:
“Jonathan has been central to First Light’s scientific achievements for more than a decade. He combines exceptional scientific rigour with a deep understanding of how to translate fundamental research into practical progress. His leadership has been instrumental in the development of FLARE, and I am delighted to appoint him as Chief Scientist as we continue to advance our technology and build the foundations for commercial fusion energy.”
Jonathan Skidmore, Chief Scientist at First Light Fusion said:
“I am honoured to take on the role of Chief Scientist at such an exciting time for First Light. Over the past decade, I have had the privilege of working alongside an incredibly talented team to tackle some of the most challenging problems in fusion science. I look forward to helping shape our scientific strategy and accelerating the development of FLARE as we work towards establishing a practical and commercially viable path to fusion energy.”
This promotion reflects Jon’s outstanding contributions to First Light Fusion and the impact he will continue to have as we pursue our mission to enable commercial fusion energy.
