Dan Brouillette

Dan Brouillette
Name	Dan Brouillette
Birth date	17 August 1962
Birth place	Bushton, Kansas
Occupation	Politician; Business executive
Office	15th United States Secretary of Energy
President	Donald Trump
Term start	2019-12-03
Term end	2021-01-20
Predecessor	Rick Perry
Successor	Jennifer Granholm

Dan Brouillette is an American politician and corporate executive who served as the 15th United States Secretary of Energy under Donald Trump. He previously held senior positions in the United States Department of Energy and on Capitol Hill, and later transitioned to roles in the private sector and trade associations. Brouillette's career spans interactions with federal agencies, energy companies, and policy organizations.

Early life and education

Brouillette was born in Bushton, Kansas and raised in Cass City, Michigan, near Saginaw, Michigan. He attended St. Francis de Sales School and graduated from Cass City High School. Brouillette earned a Bachelor of Arts from Ferris State University and completed postgraduate studies at Loyola University Chicago and programs involving Harvard Kennedy School executive education. His early life connected him to communities in Bay City, Michigan, Tuscola County, Michigan, and regional institutions such as Central Michigan University and Kellogg Community College through local networks.

Business and private sector career

Before joining the federal executive branch, Brouillette worked in the private sector with ties to the automotive and energy industries. He served at Ford Motor Company-related initiatives and engaged with suppliers in the Automotive Industry Action Group. Brouillette later joined US Senators' staff where he interfaced with trade groups including National Association of Manufacturers, American Petroleum Institute, and U.S. Chamber of Commerce. After government service he accepted positions at DLA Piper-affiliated consulting projects and consulting firms that advised clients in sectors represented by ExxonMobil, Chevron Corporation, BP plc, Royal Dutch Shell, and ConocoPhillips. Brouillette also worked with energy service firms and pipeline interests associated with Kinder Morgan, Enbridge, TC Energy, and power producers such as NextEra Energy and Duke Energy.

Political career

Brouillette's political career began on Capitol Hill with roles for U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate members, including service as a staffer for Dave Camp and as staff director for Republican leadership committees like the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. He served in the George W. Bush administration in the United States Department of Energy as Assistant Secretary of Energy for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs and later as United States Deputy Secretary of Energy under President Barack Obama-era holdovers and President Donald Trump appointments. Brouillette participated in interagency coordination with Department of Defense, Department of State, Environmental Protection Agency, and National Security Council officials, working on projects touching Strategic Petroleum Reserve policies, Yucca Mountain debates, and nuclear issues involving Department of Energy National Laboratories such as Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

United States Secretary of Energy

Nominated by Donald Trump and confirmed by the United States Senate, Brouillette assumed the role of United States Secretary of Energy in December 2019. His tenure engaged with matters concerning Energy Information Administration, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and international partners like International Energy Agency. Brouillette oversaw policies affecting fossil fuel producers including Halliburton, Schlumberger, and Peabody Energy; nuclear sectors entailing Nuclear Regulatory Commission relations and programs at Idaho National Laboratory; and renewable energy stakeholders such as Tesla, Inc., First Solar, Vestas Wind Systems, and Siemens Gamesa. He addressed sanctions and export controls alongside Department of Commerce actions, coordinated responses with United States Geological Survey on critical minerals, and participated in dialogues with foreign counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Russia, China, Norway, and Canada about oil markets and strategic reserves. Brouillette navigated debates involving the Paris Agreement, Clean Power Plan, and congressional oversight from committees including the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.

Post-government activities

After leaving office in January 2021, Brouillette joined private industry and advocacy organizations, taking executive and advisory roles with trade groups, think tanks, and corporations. He engaged with organizations such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Business Roundtable, and energy-focused associations like the American Petroleum Institute and National Mining Association. Brouillette has provided consulting and board services to firms linked to Renewable Energy Group, Chevron Corporation, Exelon Corporation, and transmission companies like American Electric Power and National Grid. He also participated in events hosted by policy institutions including Brookings Institution, Heritage Foundation, American Enterprise Institute, Council on Foreign Relations, and Atlantic Council.

Personal life and affiliations

Brouillette resides in Virginia and is active in community and faith organizations connected to Catholic Church parishes and local charities in the Washington metropolitan area. He has affiliations with professional networks such as the National Governors Association when interacting with state officials, and he has been involved with alumni groups at Ferris State University and programs at Loyola University Chicago. Brouillette's memberships and board participation have included nonprofit and corporate entities, linking him to broader policy and industry circles involving figures from Congressional leadership, state governors, corporate CEOs, and former officials from the Department of Energy and Department of Defense.

Category:1962 births Category:Living people Category:United States Secretaries of Energy