This database was last updated in October 2019 and
should only be used as a historical snapshot. There may be new information
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Department of Energy: Deregulatory Task Force Members
Do you know something about one of the political appointees at Energy or about the work they’re doing? Send us an email at [email protected] or send a Signal message to 347-244-2134.
Executive Advisor | Deputy General Counsel for Compliance | $179,700 |
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Michael Brown was a director for The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, a trade group representing electricity, coal and railroad interests. After that, he did market development and government relations work for Chesapeake Energy, the petroleum and gas company. — ProPublica
G. Michael Brown was the Political Director for Dr. Ben Carson’s campaign for president. In this capacity Michael led the campaign’s 150+ person political team across the country including the early primary/caucus states of Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada. Prior to joining the campaign Michael served as Chesapeake Energy Corporation’s manager for Market Development and Government Relations in Texas. In this position he handled state-specific issues, advocated for increased demand for compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles, and managed a nation-wide public speaking and advocacy portfolio within the oil and gas sector. Michael’s past political work includes serving as a campaign manager, attorney or operative for numerous candidates, political operations, and ballot initiatives throughout the country. In addition to campaigns, Michael served as a White House Intern and as a press secretary for the International Trade Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce in Washington, D.C. during the second Bush Administration. Michael earned his law degree from the University of Missouri where he served as the Associate Editor-in-Chief for the school’s environment and energy law journal and studied international law at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom. Michael also has a BA in History from Texas Tech University and a Masters of Public Affairs (MPA) from the Harry S Truman School of Public Affairs at the University of Missouri. Michael is a 6th generation Texan who enjoys traveling, sports and fostering rescue dogs until they find a permanent home.
Assistant to the Secretary, Office Of The Secretary | Senior Advisor, Assistant Secretary for Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability | $112,021 |
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Travis Fisher was an economist focusing on the electricity grid for the Institute for Energy Research, a conservative think tank that has opposed efforts to limit greenhouse gas emissions and that has received funding from the American Petroleum Institute and the Charles Koch Institute. Prior to that, he was an economist at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. — ProPublica
Travis Fisher is an IER economist. Fisher comes to IER with seven years of experience as an economist with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). In his role, Fisher oversees research and analysis on electricity issues and will help expand IER's research on electricity markets, FERC, and grid reliability issues. Fisher graduated with a B.S. and M.E. in Economics North Carolina State University.
Bill Greene helped lead government affairs for Safari Club International, the hunter advocacy organization, and consulted for Frontiers of Freedom, a free market group that has published criticism of the Energy Department’s support for renewable power. Prior to that, he was an aide to former House Speaker John Boehner and held posts at the White House and the Energy Department during the George W. Bush administration. — ProPublica
Safari Club International has added veteran Capitol Hill staffer Bill Greene to its hunter advocacy team based in its Washington, DC office. Greene will serve as Deputy Director of Government Affairs. He most recently served as Director of Outreach for Speaker John Boehner, where he built a network of opinion leaders, coalition partners, and elected officials to help drive messaging and focus grassroots efforts during legislative consideration. Greene began his Congressional service in 1995 as a speechwriter for the House Republican Conference during the initial 100 days of the Contract with America. He later worked as a personal office press secretary and as a communications director at the House Budget Committee. During President George W. Bush’s administration, Greene worked in the White House Office of Strategic Initiatives and at the Department of Energy on the Yucca Mountain Project. At the White House Greene helped assemble a coalition of forestry, conservation, fishing, and hunter advocacy groups that supported passage and enactment of the President’s Healthy Forests Restoration Act in 2003. Greene returned to Capitol Hill in 2007, supporting then-Republican Leader Boehner’s rise to the speakership in 2011 beginning with the roll out of the Pledge to America. Greene finished college at age 30 after enlisted service in the U.S. Army and several years in the blue-collar ranks, mostly as a land surveyor. He holds a BA in political science from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and also attended the Centre for Medieval & Renaissance Studies at the University of Oxford in England. He claims Spartanburg, South Carolina as home. His wife, Loretta Solon Greene, serves on the Texas State Society Board. They have three children, Julia, Tommy, and Isabella, and reside in the Mount Vernon area of Alexandria, Virginia.
Brian McCormack previously handled political and external affairs for Edison Electric Institute, the trade association representing investor-owned electric companies. — ProPublica
Prior to joining EEI, Brian worked as a private consultant on coalition development, media and policy issues to political candidates, businesses and trade associations. He served in numerous capacities in the George W. Bush Administration, ending as Deputy Assistant to the President for Strategic Initiatives and External Affairs. Brian also served as a special assistant in the Department of Defense to Ambassador L. Paul Bremer, presidential envoy to Iraq, and later to Ken Krieg in the Office of Acquisition, Technology and Logistics. He began in the Administration as the personal aide to Vice President Dick Cheney. His government service began with Senator Dirk Kempthorne. Brian was raised in New Jersey and received his B.A. in Criminal Justice Administration from Boise State University.
Assistant to the Secretary, Office of the Secretary | Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy | $160,000 |
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Daniel Simmons was vice president for policy at the Institute for Energy Research, a conservative think tank that has opposed efforts to limit greenhouse gas emissions and that has received funding from the American Petroleum Institute and the Charles Koch Institute. Prior to that, he was a task force director for the American Legislative Exchange Council, an industry-funded model bill organization, and a research fellow at the Koch-funded conservative think tank Mercatus Center. — ProPublica
Daniel served as the Institute for Energy Research's Vice President for Policy, overseeing its energy and environmental policy work at the state and federal level. He previously served as director of the Natural Resources Task Force at the American Legislative Exchange Council, was a research fellow at the Mercatus Center, and worked as professional staff on the Committee on Resources of the U.S. House of Representatives. He is a graduate of Utah State University and George Mason University School of Law.
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