DayStar Technologies, Inc. announced that at the request of the Board of Directors, Stephan J. DeLuca resigned from his roles as CEO and director of DayStar effective May 12, 2009.DayStar also announced the appointment of Robert G. Aldrich, chairman of the Board of Directors of DayStar, to the additional position of CEO of the company, effective May 12, 2009.DayStar also announced plans to implement a reduction of approximately 30 percent of its workforce. The reduction is expected to be completed in the second quarter.

"We are grateful for Dr. DeLuca’s efforts over the past few years as the company achieved many key technical and operational milestones,” stated Dr. Aldrich. "We wish Dr. DeLuca the very best in his future endeavors."

“I am excited about the opportunity to lead DayStar’s senior management team as we continue our efforts to build-out our initial manufacturing line and commence commercial shipments of our product. I believe that our senior management team, including Ratson Morad, president and COO, Bob Weiss, CTO,Bill Steckel, CFO and Patrick Forkin VP – corporate development are committed and well qualified to accomplish our objectives,” stated Dr. Aldrich.

"We continue to face a challenging operating environment that requires us to make difficult decisions," said Dr. Aldrich. "We believe the workforce reduction announced today, coupled with our ongoing focus on expense control, will help us accomplish our objectives and conserve cash.”

Dr. Aldrich was appointed DayStar’s chairman of the Board in September 2008.He joined DayStar as a director in October 2003. Since 1995, Dr. Aldrich has provided executive and consulting assistance to identify and develop business opportunities arising from globalization, technology, environmental quality, and energy deregulation.

Dr. Aldrich served from 1992 to 1995 as group vice president, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI).From 1990 to 1992, he was a director of Ramtron, a public company developing non-volatile memory chips. Prior experience includes executive positions with Alcan Aluminum Corporation, Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation, and Syracuse Research Corporation.Dr. Aldrich holds a Ph.D. in solid state science and technology from Syracuse University and a Bachelor in Metallurgical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.