Joshua Ballard is a distinguished executive with more than 25 years of experience in the energy and natural resources industries. He began his career in investment banking at firms like Salomon Smith Barney, where he honed his skills in mergers, acquisitions, and capital markets. Ballard later founded Templar Energy Ltd. in 2006, serving as CEO and guiding the company through rapid growth in upstream oil and gas operations across Texas and Oklahoma. Under his leadership, Templar achieved significant production milestones before its successful sale in 2014, establishing Ballard's reputation for scaling resource-based enterprises. In 2021, Ballard joined USA Rare Earth Inc. as Chief Executive Officer, tasked with advancing the company's mission to develop a fully domestic rare earth supply chain. He oversaw the progression of the Round Top Mountain project in West Texas—one of North America's richest rare earth deposits—securing key partnerships, federal grants, and processing facility developments. His strategic vision drove innovations in mineral separation technology and positioned the company to supply critical materials for defense, electric vehicles, and clean energy technologies, reducing U.S. dependence on foreign sources. Ballard stepped down as CEO in 2024, leaving a profound impact on USA Rare Earth's trajectory toward commercial production. His achievements include raising over $100 million in funding, advancing pilot-scale processing, and forging alliances with government agencies and industry leaders, solidifying his legacy as a pioneer in critical minerals development.