Jim Barnhart is a results-driven executive with a proven track record in operations, general management, customer advocacy, services, supply chain, manufacturing, and engineering. As Chief Operating Officer at AtmosZero, Jim leverages his decades of experience to lead operational excellence and drive the company’s mission to decarbonize industry.
Jim’s career spans senior leadership roles across high-tech and advanced manufacturing industries. Before joining AtmosZero, he served as Chief Operating Officer at Velodyne Lidar, where he led operations for world-class lidar sensors. Previously, Jim was Senior Vice President of Operations at Nanometrics Inc., overseeing advanced process control solutions, and Senior Vice President of Global Operations at Cymer LLC, where he guided large-scale operational initiatives. He is a best-selling author whose experience also includes leadership roles at Applied Materials, Johnson & Johnson, and AREVA.
Jim’s foundation in collaborative leadership began as a nuclear engineering division officer in the U.S. Navy, where he developed technical expertise and operational rigor. He holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Washington State University and an MBA from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley.
Outside of work, Jim enjoys cycling, hiking, and nature photography, combining his love for the outdoors with his problem-solving mindset.