Dan Brouillette
Official portrait, 2017
15th United States Secretary of Energy
In office
December 4, 2019 – January 20, 2021
Acting: December 1, 2019 – December 4, 2019
PresidentDonald Trump
DeputyMark Menezes
Preceded byRick Perry
Succeeded byJennifer Granholm
19th United States Deputy Secretary of Energy
In office
August 8, 2017 – December 4, 2019
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byElizabeth Sherwood-Randall
Succeeded byMark Menezes
Assistant Secretary of Energy for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs
In office
August 1, 2001 – October 3, 2003
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byJohn Angell[1]
Succeeded byRick Dearborn
Personal details
Born
Danny Ray Brouillette

(1962-08-18) August 18, 1962 (age 61)
Paincourtville, Louisiana, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseAdrienne
Children9
EducationUniversity of Maryland, College Park (BA)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army

Danny Ray Brouillette[2] (/bruːˈjɛt/ born August 18, 1962) is an American government official and businessman who served as the United States secretary of energy from 2019 to 2021.[3] He previously served as the deputy secretary of energy from August 2017 to December 2019. On August 16, 2023, Brouillette was named President and Chief Executive Officer Elect of the Edison Electric Institute.[4]

Early life and education

Brouillette is originally from Paincourtville, Louisiana. He graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park in 1995.[5]

Career

Following his service in the United States Army, Brouillette served as U.S. representative Billy Tauzin's legislative director from 1989 to 1997.[5] From 1997 to 2000, he was Senior Vice President of R. Duffy Wall & Associates,[6] a DC-based independent lobbying firm.[7] Brouillette was Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs in the U.S. Department of Energy from 2001 to 2003 under President George W. Bush.[8]

He then served as chief of staff under Rep. Billy Tauzin and was also staff director for the House Energy and Commerce Committee from 2003 to 2004, when Tauzin chaired the committee.[9][10] Brouillette was involved in crafting provisions included in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, specifically with respect to the Department of Energy loan guarantee program and federal authorization of importation and exportation of liquid natural gas.[9]

From 2004 to 2006, Brouillette was a vice president at Ford Motor Company, running the company's domestic policy teams. He also served on Ford's North American Operating Committee.[9] In 2006, Brouillette was hired as head of public policy and senior vice president at United Services Automobile Association, which offers financial services to people and families that serve, or served, in the United States military.[11]

Brouillette also served as a member of Louisiana's State Mineral and Energy Board from 2013 to 2016.[10]

Dan Brouillette was awarded the 2020 Distinguished Alumnus Award by the University of Maryland Global Campus Alumni Association.[12] In 2021, he joined the American Council for Capital Formation's board of advisors.[13][14]

Deputy Secretary of Energy (2017–2019)

On April 3, 2017, President Donald Trump announced he would nominate Brouillette as United States deputy secretary of energy in the United States Department of Energy.[8] Brouillette was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on August 3, 2017. He was sworn in as the deputy secretary for energy on August 8, 2017.[15]

Secretary of Energy (2019–2021)

Dan Brouillette being sworn in on December 11, 2019.

On October 18, 2019, President Trump announced he would nominate Brouillette as United States Secretary of Energy to replace Rick Perry, who had announced he would step down by the end of the year.[16] On November 7, 2019, President Trump sent his nomination to the Senate.[17]

Perry formally resigned as Energy Secretary on December 1, 2019, making Brouillette the acting secretary as his nomination was still pending before the U.S. Senate. On December 2, 2019, the Senate confirmed his nomination by a vote of 70–15.[18] Brouillette was formally sworn in on December 11, 2019.[19]

Brouillette delegated the powers and responsibilities of Deputy Secretary to then-Under Secretary of Energy Mark Menezes. Menezes serving as Acting Deputy Secretary of Energy was confirmed as Deputy Secretary on August 4, 2020.[20]

During his time as secretary, the United States achieved the position as the top global producer of oil and natural gas, surpassing Russia and Saudi Arabia.[21] That achievement was instrumental in facilitating a deal between the U.S. and other oil-producing nations to stabilize global oil markets during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.[22]

Secretary Brouillette speaks at a farewell event at the Department of Energy Headquarters in Washington D.C. in January 2021.

Brouillette traveled extensively, both domestically and internationally, during his year as Secretary. In February 2020, he traveled to Munich, Germany to attend the Munich Security Conference;[23] Vienna, Austria, to attend the IAEA's International Conference on Nuclear Security;[24] Lisbon, Portugal, to tour the Port of Sines and meet with various officials and industry representatives;[24] Rio de Janeiro to attend the U.S.-Brazil Energy Forum;[25] and New Delhi to attend the U.S.-India Energy Cooperation Roundtable.[26]

In December 2020, as part of the recently-signed Abraham-Accords, Brouillette convened a "first-of-its kind" meeting between the energy minister of Israel and counterparts from several Arab nations.[27]

Brouillette also traveled frequently within the United States in 2020, including to Pennsylvania,[28] North Carolina,[29] Virginia,[30] Wisconsin,[31] Michigan,[32] Montana,[33] Louisiana,[34] North Dakota,[35] Colorado,[36] Texas,[37] and Kentucky.[38] On January 7, 2021, Brouillette promised a seamless handover between the Trump and Biden administrations.[39]

On January 15, 2021, Brouillette issued a letter to the U.S. governors in which he highlighted the need of critical energy workers' health and preferential Covid vaccination, to ensure an uninterrupted energy supply to the Nation's communities.[40]

Post-Trump administration

Sempra Infrastructure

Brouillette was named the president of Sempra Infrastructure in July 2021 and started with the company in November of that year.[41] During his time with Sempra, Brouillette oversaw the continued development of massive energy infrastructure projects, including reaching a final investment decision on the Port Arthur LNG project in Texas[42] and a heads of agreement deal with TotalEnergies, Mitsui, Mitsubishi and NYK for Cameron LNG Phase 2.[43]

Edison Electric Institute

On August 16, 2023, the Edison Electric Institute named Brouillette its president and chief executive officer, effective January 1, 2024.[44]

Personal life

Brouillette and his wife, Adrienne, are U.S. Army veterans and the parents of nine children, all of whom the couple homeschooled.[45] They reside in Maryland.[8] He served in the Army from 1982 to 1987 as a tank commander in Germany in the "Fulda Gap" and as a Drill Sergeant in the Army Reserve in South Carolina.

References

  1. ^ "PN576 — Dan R. Brouillette — Department of Energy". United States Congress. August 1, 2001. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  2. ^ "Danny Ray Brouillette". Propublica. November 8, 2017. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  3. ^ "Brouillette Sworn in as 15th Energy Secretary - ExchangeMonitor | Page 1". December 6, 2019.
  4. ^ Institute, Edison Electric. "EEI Board Names Dan Brouillette President and Chief Executive Officer Elect". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Roster Change -- FCW". FCW. Archived from the original on September 28, 2017. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  6. ^ "President Bush to Nominate Two Individuals to Serve in His Administration". Office of the Press Secretary. April 20, 2001. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  7. ^ McAllister, Bill (May 16, 1998). "PUBLIC RELATIONS FIRM ACQUIRES LOBBYING STALWART R. DUFFY WALL". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  8. ^ a b c "President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Dan R. Brouillette to the Department of Energy". whitehouse.gov. April 3, 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2017 – via National Archives.
  9. ^ a b c "Deputy Energy Secretary Pick Has Lobbying, Capitol Hill Ties". bna.com. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  10. ^ a b Cama, Timothy (April 3, 2017). "Trump picks Bush veteran to be Rick Perry's deputy". TheHill. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  11. ^ "Trump Names Deputy For Perry's Department Of Energy - Law360". law360.com. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  12. ^ "30 Years of Honoring Our Alumni: Introducing the 2020 Alumni Award Winners". alumni.umgc.edu. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  13. ^ "Trump DOE chief Dan Brouillette joins think tank". E&E News. July 13, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  14. ^ Choi, Matthew (July 2021). "House Democrats' united front". POLITICO. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  15. ^ "Dan Brouillette Sworn in as Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of Energy". Energy.gov. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  16. ^ @realDonaldTrump (October 18, 2019). "At the same time, I am pleased to nominate Deputy Secretary Dan Brouillette to be the new Secretary of Energy" (Tweet). Retrieved October 18, 2019 – via Twitter.
  17. ^ "One Nomination Sent to the Senate". whitehouse.gov. November 7, 2019. Retrieved November 7, 2019 – via National Archives.
  18. ^ Friedman, Lisa (December 2, 2019). "Senate Confirms Dan Brouillette to Lead Energy Department". The New York Times.
  19. ^ "President Donald J. Trump Presides Over Swearing In Of Dan Brouillette As 15th Secretary Of Energy" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: United States Department of Energy. December 11, 2019. Archived from the original on December 12, 2019. Retrieved December 12, 2019. On Wednesday, December 11, 2019, President Donald J. Trump presided over the swearing in of Dan Brouillette to serve as the 15th U.S. Secretary of Energy. Vice President Mike Pence administered the oath of office.
  20. ^ "PN1683 - Nomination of Mark Wesley Menezes for Department of Energy, 116th Congress (2019-2020)". www.congress.gov. August 4, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  21. ^ "The U.S. is the largest global crude oil producer". Washington Post. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  22. ^ Krauss, Clifford (April 12, 2020). "Oil Nations, Prodded by Trump, Reach Deal to Slash Production (Published 2020)". The New York Times. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  23. ^ Gould, Joe (February 19, 2020). "US energy secretary talks arms control, nuclear budget boost and Iranian cyberattacks". Defense News. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  24. ^ a b "Secretary Brouillette To Visit Austria, Portugal, and Germany". Department of Energy. February 7, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  25. ^ "U.S. Secretary of Energy visits Brazil to co-chair the U.S.-Brazil Energy Forum". U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Brazil. January 27, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  26. ^ "Pradhan meets US Energy Secretary". Business Standard India. Press Trust of India. February 24, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  27. ^ "Israel, US, UAE, Bahrain to cooperate on energy - Al-Monitor: Independent, trusted coverage of the Middle East". www.al-monitor.com. December 16, 2020. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  28. ^ Clark, Lesley (September 21, 2020). "DOE: Brouillette to visit Pa. ethane plant Trump promoted". E&E News. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  29. ^ Ohnesorge, Lauren (October 12, 2020). "US Energy secretary: Triangle universities can help win the quantum race against China". Triangle Business Journal. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  30. ^ Metcalfe, Trevor (October 12, 2020). "Secretary of Energy voices approval of Lambert's Point Docks operation amid air quality study". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  31. ^ Rubesky, Charlee (October 6, 2020). "U.S. Secretary of Energy stresses importance of energy programs at NWTC visit". WLUK/Fox 11. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  32. ^ Burke, Melissa Nann (July 14, 2020). "Brouillette heads to GM on first trip to Michigan as energy secretary". The Detroit News. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  33. ^ Riesinger, Russ (October 2, 2020). "Trump energy secretary sees good future for struggling Colstrip coal plant". KTVQ. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  34. ^ Wilson, Sabrina (September 9, 2020). "U.S. Energy secretary says Hurricane Laura damaged a Strategic Petroleum Reserve site; meets with Gov. Edwards". WVUE-DT/Fox 8. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  35. ^ Willis, Adam (September 1, 2020). "In meetings with U.S. Secretary of Energy, ND leaders, industry voices call for deregulation". The Dickinson Press. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  36. ^ Kohler, Judith (August 13, 2020). "Oil, gas industry can be vehicle for U.S. economic recovery, energy secretary says". Greeley Tribune. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  37. ^ Takahashi, Paul (August 3, 2020). "Brouillette, the energy secretary, remains optimistic about the future of oil and gas". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  38. ^ Stratman, Jim (January 30, 2020). "US Secretary of Energy speaks in Lexington on future of Kentucky's energy industry". WKYT. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  39. ^ Demarest, Colin (January 8, 2021). "Energy secretary pledges to support 'smooth transition' between Trump, Biden". Post and Courier. Archived from the original on January 8, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  40. ^ "ENERGY SECRETARY DAN BROUILLETTE URGES PRIORITIZING CRITICAL ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE WORKERS IN COVID-19 VACCINATION". Energy.gov. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  41. ^ Nikolewski, Rob (July 15, 2021). "Sempra hires former US energy secretary under Trump". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  42. ^ Villarreal, Lupita (March 20, 2023). "'More jobs and greater opportunities' : Sempra Infrastructure secures nearly $7B in funding for Port Arthur LNG project". KBMT 12 News Now. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  43. ^ "Sempra Infrastructure Announces Heads of Agreement with TotalEnergies, Mitsui, Mitsubishi and NYK for Cameron LNG Phase 2". globalenergyinfrastructure.com (press release). Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  44. ^ Frazin, Rachel (August 16, 2023). "Trump-era Energy secretary to lead electric utility lobby group". The Hill. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  45. ^ Wolff, Eric (October 18, 2019). "Trump to nominate Dan Brouillette as Energy Secretary". Politico. Retrieved October 19, 2019.

External links

Political offices Preceded byElizabeth Randall United States Deputy Secretary of Energy 2017–2019 Succeeded byMark Menezes Preceded byRick Perry United States Secretary of Energy 2019–2021 Succeeded byJennifer Granholm U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) Preceded byEugene Scaliaas Former US Cabinet Member Order of precedence of the United Statesas Former US Cabinet Member Succeeded byMarty Walshas Former US Cabinet Member
United States Secretaries of Energy
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