Chuck Hassebrook is the Director of the Biochar Policy Project of the National Center for Appropriate Technology. He played a leading role in the introduction of the Biochar Research Network Act and other federal initiatives to support biochar. Chuck previously served 36 years with the Center for Rural Affairs of Lyons, NE, including 17 years as executive director. Under his leadership, the Center was instrumental in passage of state and federal rural development, family farm and conservation legislation. It also ran the nation’s leading rural microenterprise development program. Chuck was elected three times to the University of Nebraska Board of Regents, serving 18 years, including two terms as chair. He is a native of Platte Center, Nebraska, where his family has farmed for over a century. He now lives in Lincoln with his wife Kate.