Management Analyst at Enegis LLC, On-site contractor in the Office of Fossil Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy

Affiliation and years of experience in energy and/or environment:

I am a Management Analyst working on-site in the Office of Fossil Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy with Enegis LLC. Through this work with DOE, I help to collect and analyze U.S. natural gas export and import data from U.S. companies, foreign suppliers, and trading partners such as Canada, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, and Taiwan, to name a few. Collectively, I have over six years of direct energy industry experience gained in both the U.S. Government and private sector. I have conducted extensive legislative reviews of several energy and environmental bills and acts, including the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, and the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Additionally, I also have experience in the international trade and development field, with my energy and international trade interests often overlapping. For example, I helped to promote U.S. export growth by providing international trade and economic data research and analysis while on a graduate school position at the U.S. Department of Commerce, and I also coordinated the monitoring and evaluation of U.S. investments in emerging markets during a graduate school position at OPIC (Overseas Private Investment Corporation). The ability of the United States to export natural gas creates a combination of energy and international trade synergies.

Any particular achievement/interest in energy/environment you would like to mention?

Two achievements and areas of interest come to mind when thinking about my professional and personal experience:

Providing accurate and timely U.S. natural gas export and import data to the U.S. Department of Energy and interested parties to ensure U.S. policymakers are able to make the most challenging decisions to drive both the U.S. economy and U.S. foreign policy interests forward.; and

Combining my energy and international trade interests to increase U.S. and global living standards by way of appropriate levels of international trade in energy as well as to ensure adequate gas supplies to continue fueling a rebirth in U.S. manufacturing.

In your opinion, what are important economic/policy issues facing the energy industry nowadays?

A major economic and policy issue facing the energy industry today is how to get it right with respect to end users of the abundance of U.S. natural gas. In short, is the excess stock of natural gas better used as an export commodity to help U.S. friends and allies, or better used by retaining the gas to lower domestic manufacturing costs and thus increase U.S. employment levels?

The answer to this question will likely have a mix of both; the real challenge is figuring out the right allocation of gas to satisfy both domestic economic uses as well as international foreign policy aims. Also key to note, is whether the political will exists for decision makers to reach a consensus in which likely no stakeholder receives everything they wish.

How long have you been a member of NCAC? Any particular NCAC memory you would like to share with us?

I have been a member of the NCAC since 2009. Put into broader perspective, the NCAC is like an extended family for everyone involved. From the monthly lunchtime presentations and discussions to the conversations at NCAC after working hours events, the NCAC has always been a place where committed individuals come together to discuss the challenging energy issues of the day. I became a member of the NCAC while still a student in George Mason University’s masters of international commerce and policy program. Through the NCAC, I have had the pleasure of learning and growing in the energy industry from both the student and professional level perspectives.