About Us
Dr. Mike Houts
Dr. Mike Houts brings more than 35 years of nuclear engineering leadership across advanced reactor systems, safety strategy, and mission-critical technical programs. An MIT-trained nuclear engineer, he led Criticality, Reactor, and Radiation Physics at Los Alamos National Laboratory before serving as Nuclear Research Manager at NASA Marshall and principal investigator for Space Nuclear Propulsion. His background brings deep technical credibility to TriCore’s work in reactor integration, safety planning, vendor engagement, and deployment strategy for advanced microreactor applications.
Matthew Houts
Matthew Houts has a background in stockpile reliability engineering across multiple missile-system programs, giving him firsthand experience in high-consequence engineering environments where performance, safety, discipline, and execution matter. That work has shaped his systems-level approach to TriCore Energy’s mission: turning advanced nuclear technology into practical deployment opportunities for customers that need dependable 24/7 power. Matthew works across strategy, partnerships, investor engagement, and project development to align reactor vendors, financing, regulatory pathways, and local stakeholders into executable projects. His focus is building TriCore into a trusted platform for delivering reliable microreactor power to mines, infrastructure, data centers, remote communities, and other critical-load customers.
Barry Smith
Barry Smith has spent well over a decade building relationships across Africa and continues to spend several months each year on the continent strengthening those ties in person. Through sustained, on-the-ground engagement, he has developed numerous contacts with government officials, business leaders, and other key stakeholders across countries including Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, Zambia, Senegal, The Gambia, Liberia, Uganda, Tanzania, and Namibia. His regional experience and long-standing relationships help TriCore open strategic conversations, build trust with decision-makers, and create the local alignment needed to move promising opportunities toward real project development.