Brent carries out computational and experimental research on energy conversion systems, with a focus on wind and water energy technologies. He is the principal investigator of AMSIT, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Manufacturing and Materials Technology Office (AMMTO).
Before joining Sandia, Brent taught mechanical engineering courses and advised undergraduate and graduate research at Rice University. He holds B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.