Levi Tillemann

Early life and education

Levi's father, Timber Dick, was a businessman, inventor, and administrator at the University of Denver's School of Engineering and Computer Sciences. The son of Colorado's first female lieutenant governor, Nancy E. Dick, Timber died from burn wounds following a 2008 automobile accident. Levi, with his brothers Corban and Tomicah accepted the NASA "Create the Future" award for their work with their father on an ultra high-efficiency engine.

Levi's mother, Annette, is a Jewish convert to Mormonism and daughter of Tom Lantos. While serving on a mission, Levi left the faith when he was unable to reconcile the logical and liberal outlook his parents had instilled in him with perceived inconsistencies in church doctrine.

At 15, he started college at Regis University, transferring to Yale University at 16 where he graduated with honors. He then earned a PhD from Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies in Japan and China studies. He speaks Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese and Japanese.

Career

While in grad school, Levi served as a researcher for Pulitzer Prize-winning economic writer Daniel Yergin. and, with his brother Corban, continued his father's efforts to develop radical new engine design that is much more efficient than a traditional internal combustion engine. In 2009, their startup, IRIS engines, won a $100,000 investment prize from venture firm Draper Fisher Jurvetson. The IRIS Engine also won numerous other awards, including in NASA's annual "Create the Future" design competition, ConocoPhillips' Energy Prize competition, and several university sponsored competitions.

The engine uses the walls of the chamber as a working surface, rather than the floor of the chamber, and in turn increases its working surface area from about 25 percent to more than 70 percent. Levi holds multiple U.S. and international patents for the IRIS design.

He served as a Special Advisor for Policy and International Affairs at the Department of Energy and chaired the Department’s Autonomous and Connected Vehicles Energy Working Group. His is currently a Jeff and Cal Leonard Fellow at the New America Foundation and Managing Partner at Valence Strategic, LLC.

The Great Race: The Global Quest For The Car Of The Future

Tillemann's book, published in 2015 by Simon & Schuster, explains the $2 trillion global automotive industry and the competition between the U.S., Japan, and China to create the next generation of automobiles. He argues that strategic government policy plays a critical role in car development.

Congressional Campaign

In May, 2017, Levi announced the formation of an exploratory committee and the beginning of a listening tour to examine the feasibility of a congressional bid in Colorado's 6th congressional district. He plans to knock on doors, visit taquerias and diners, participate in community meetings and hear more about what's important to his potential constituents.

“We need a government that can build a better present without surrendering the future,” said Levi. “The policies of Mike Coffman and Donald Trump are failing Colorado. Let’s harness the power of innovation and common sense to strengthen our communities and bring the jobs of the future to Colorado.”

After a 6-week listening tour, Levi announced his candidacy. Colorado political journalist Ernest Luning quoted Levi as saying: “what I heard [from people in the district] was they needed a candidate who was willing to fight for progressive values, they needed a candidate who was going to bring the jobs of the future to Congressional District 6, they needed a candidate who cared about the issues they cared about — whether that be health care for their families and their parents and their children, or the environment . . . ‘We want you to run; we feel like you have the right kind of message, you understand diversity, you understand the future of the economy, and you’re the kind of representative we want for CD 6.’”