+ Jason Albritton, The Nature Conservancy
Jason Albritton is the Director of Climate and Energy Policy in The Nature Conservancy’s U.S. Government Relations office. In this role, he oversees a team that advocates for the Conservancy’s Federal climate and energy priorities.
Previously, Mr. Albritton served as a Senior Policy Advisor for the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works where he was responsible for a wide portfolio of environmental and public works issues, including climate change, air pollution, water quality, toxic substances, and water and transportation infrastructure. Prior to working in Congress, he served as a Senior Policy Advisor at The Nature Conservancy, where he worked closely with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Department of Transportation on water management and infrastructure issues.
Mr. Albritton, originally from Paducah, Kentucky, earned a B.A. in Biology from Murray State University in 2003, and a Masters in Ecological Economics from the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom.
+ Inês M. Lima Azevedo, Carnegie Mellon University
Inês M. Lima Azevedo is Associate Professor in the Department of Engineering and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University. She is co-PI and the co-Director for the Climate and Energy Decision Making Center. She has a B.Sc. in Environmental Engineering (2004) and a MSc in Engineering Policy and Management of Technology from IST-Portugal, and a PhD in Engineering and Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University (2009). Dr. Azevedo’s research interests lie at the intersection of behavioral and decision making, environmental, technical and economic issues, such as how to address the challenge of climate change and to move towards a more sustainable energy system. She addresses complex problems in which traditional engineering plays an important role but cannot provide a complete answer. She has participated in several reports from National Research Council from the US National Academy of Sciences.
+ Stephen Brick, Clean Air Task Force
Stephen Brick has worked for more than forty years at the intersection of energy and environmental policy; his expertise includes utility regulatory policy, energy economics, energy technology assessment and air pollution control policy and economics. Since 2009 he has been a Senior Fellow in Climate and Energy at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and Senior Advisor in Technology and Policy at the Clean Air Task Force. Brick is Adjunct Faculty at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University.
From 2005 to 2009 Mr. Brick served as the manager of the environment program for the Joyce Foundation in Chicago. In this capacity he directed a $6 million per year grant portfolio focused on energy and water issues in the Great Lakes region. Previously he served as Research Director at the Energy Center of Wisconsin, where he was responsible for a wide range of studies on energy efficiency, renewable energy and on the environmental impacts of energy systems. Other experience includes director of environmental affairs for PGE National Energy Group, science and policy director for the Clean Air Task Force, and co-founder and vice president of the energy consulting firm MSB Energy Associates. He received his BA and MS from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
+ Mark Brownstein, Environmental Defense Fund
Mark Brownstein is a Vice President of the Climate and Energy Program at Environmental Defense Fund. Mark leads EDF’s work on the oil and gas industry with particular focus on methane emissions and the risks to public health and environment associated with unconventional oil and gas development. In addition, he specializes in a variety of electric and gas utility-related policy and regulatory issues.
Prior to joining EDF, Mark held a variety of business strategy and environmental management positions within Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG), one of the largest electric and gas utility holding companies in the United States.
Mark’s career includes time as an attorney in private environmental practice, an air quality regulator with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and an aide to a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Mark is a member of the Electric Power Research Institute’s Public Advisory Board, the University of Pennsylvania’s Kleinman Center for Energy Policy Advisory Board, and the Keystone Center Energy Board.
Mark is an adjunct professor of law at New York University Law School where he co-teaches a seminar on public policy and energy project finance. He has also taught energy policy at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA).
Mark holds a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School, and a B.A. from Vassar College.
+ Jared Cohon, Carnegie Mellon University
Jared L. Cohon is Director of the Scott Institute for Energy Innovation, President Emeritus and University Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Engineering and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University. Dr. Cohon focuses on overall management of the Scott Institute for Energy Innovation. He served as president of Carnegie Mellon University for 16 years (1997–2013). He came to Carnegie Mellon from Yale, where he was Dean of the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies from 1992 to 1997. He started his teaching and research career in 1973 at Johns Hopkins, where he was a faculty member in the Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering for 19 years. He also served as Assistant and Associate Dean of Engineering and Vice Provost for Research at Johns Hopkins. Dr. Cohon earned a B.S. degree in civil engineering from the University of Pennsylvania in 1969 and a Ph.D. in civil engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1973. Learn more about Cohon.
+ Neil M. Donahue, Carnegie Mellon University
Neil M. Donahue is a Pittsburgh native who diverted through Ann Arbor for his middle and high-school years, scattered inelastically off of Providence with a degree in Physics from Brown University before entering an entangled state in Cambridge between MIT, where he received a PhD in Meteorology (Atmospheric Chemistry) under Ron Prinn and Harvard, where he conducted extended postdoctoral research as the director of kinetics research in the laboratory of Jim Anderson. He boomeranged back to Pittsburgh in 2000, joining Carnegie Mellon University with a joint appointment in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, later adding an appointment in Engineering and Public Policy. At CMU he was the founding director of the Center for Atmospheric Particle Studies and now serves as the Director of the Steinbrenner Institute for Environmental Education and Research as the Thomas Lord Professor of Chemistry.
He is a fellow of the American Geophysical Union and is recognized as a “highly-cited researcher” by Thomson-Reuters, with a citation rate in the top 1% of researchers in Geosciences. His research ranges from quantum chemistry to the experimental investigation of wood smoke. One focus area is the coupled chemistry and phase partitioning thermodynamics driving the evolution of organic particulate matter. A second area is the chemistry and physics associated with new-particle formation and growth in Earth’s atmosphere, which he studies as part of the CLOUD experiment at CERN. All of these topics fall near the intersection of air-quality and climate, where there are both large uncertainties and substantial opportunities for public policy to achieve mutually beneficial solutions.
+ Michael Ford, Carnegie Mellon University
Michael (Mike) Ford is the founder and Principal Analyst of Great Circle Strategies LLC, a consulting firm specializing in Energy, Environment, and Public Policy. He is currently completing a PhD in Engineering and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University, where he is conducting research in the area of Energy and Environment, focusing on advanced reactor technology development, unique power plant deployment models and proliferation risk. Mike is a former U.S. Navy Surface Warfare Officer with subspecialties in nuclear engineering, resource management, and operations analysis. During his time on active duty, CAPT (Ret) Ford commanded the guided missile cruiser USS BUNKER HILL (CG 52) and the guided missile destroyer USS MUSTIN (DDG 89) and deployed to Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom as the USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70) Carrier Strike Group Air Defense Commander. A nuclear operator with over 25 years of light water reactor plant operating experience, Mike also served as an engineering inspector and as lead nuclear engineer (Reactor Officer) aboard USS NIMITZ (CVN 68). Ashore, Mike held senior finance and resource management positions on the U.S. Navy and U.S Joint Staffs at the Pentagon, where he developed standards for new warfare systems development and helped lead the Navy Quadrennial Defense Review process. Mike holds a Master of Science degree in Engineering (Engineering Management) from The Catholic University of America and is a past Fellow in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Center for International Studies Seminar XXI Program. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Joint Forces Staff College and Air Force Air Command and Staff College.
+ Eric Gimon, Energy Innovation
Eric Gimon consults as a technical expert, research scholar, and policy adviser with Energy Innovation. He is a main contributor to America’s Power Plan, working on questions of renewable energy integration both in the context of today’s challenges as well as for future pathways. Eric also acts as an adviser for non-profits and foundations interested in these questions and broader climate and energy issues. Eric holds a B.S./M.S. from Stanford University in mathematics and physics, as well as a Ph.D. in physics from the University of California in Santa Barbara. He had a 15-year active career in high energy physics in some of the world’s top research institutions. Eric’s work at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and UC Berkeley, as well as an AAAS fellowship with two Offices in the Department of Energy inspired his transition to climate and energy policy. He is currently focused on wholesale electricity market design for better integration of clean energy.
+ Sébastien Houde, University of Maryland
Sébastien Houde is an Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics. He received his PhD from Stanford University. He has interests in energy and environmental economics. His research focuses on investigating different policy tools used to manage energy demand, address climate change, and better design energy systems. His current research projects investigate the distributional effects of energy policies with a particular emphasis on low-income communities.
+ Jesse Jenkins, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Jesse Jenkins is a PhD candidate in Engineering Systems at MIT's Institute for Data Systems and Society and a researcher with the MIT Energy Initiative. Jesse studies electric power sector operations, regulation, policy, and economics with a focus on two overarching trends transforming the electricity sector: the transition to zero-carbon power systems and the proliferation of distributed energy resources. Jesse earned a S.M. in Technology & Policy at MIT in 2014 and previously directed the Energy and Climate Program at the Breakthrough Institute, a public policy think tank. He has published peer-reviewed papers in the journals Applied Energy, The Energy Journal, Energy Policy, and WIREs: Climate Change. His research and writing has been featured in invited testimony before the United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and in major media outlets including NPR, the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and Time Magazine. Jesse has received fellowships from the National Science Foundation, MIT Energy Initiative, and Martin Family Society of Fellows for Sustainability and serves as co-president of MIT’s Electricity Students Research Group.
+ Matt Jungclaus, Rocky Mountain Institute
Matt Jungclaus is a Senior Associate with RMI’s Buildings Practice. Matt specializes in net-zero energy strategies in the federal and private sectors. His core competencies lie in building science (including energy auditing and modeling), mechanical engineering, and project management.
Matt works on several initiatives at RMI that target aggressive energy efficiency goals, including net-zero energy. Much of his work, including one project in Pittsburgh, focuses on delivering comprehensive buildings, energy supply, and mobility solutions to help achieve forward-leaning energy goals like net-zero energy with better economics than business-as-usual. Matt is also leading a market and policy analysis toward New York City's goal to achieve an 80% carbon reduction by 2050. Matt’s past work at RMI includes developing a net-zero energy strategy for the McDonald’s Corporation and delivering integrative design workshops for federal and private sector clients.
Prior to joining RMI, Matt worked for CEG Solutions, an energy services company in Virginia, which he served as a technical analyst and a project manager for building energy projects in the public and private sectors. Before working for CEG, Matt worked as a residential energy auditor for the Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) in Charlottesville, VA. In these capacities, Matt built up his experience in energy modeling, energy auditing, data logging, and project management for projects in commercial office buildings, retail grocery stores, and residential buildings.
+ Patrick McDonnell, Acting Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Patrick McDonnell is the Acting Secretary, Department of Environmental Protection. He was most recently the director of policy for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, where he oversaw the agency's regulation and policy development processes. In addition, Mr. McDonnell ran the State Energy Office and was charged with coordination of renewable energy and energy efficiency issues.
Prior to returning to DEP, Mr. McDonnell was executive policy manager for former Commissioner Pamela A. Witmer of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, focusing on electric, natural gas and water issues as well as cybersecurity and the impact of environmental regulation on energy markets. Previously, Mr. McDonnell spent 13 years with DEP in a variety of roles. As deputy secretary for administration, he managed the budget, human resources, information technology and oversaw the facilities management functions of the agency. He also previously served as policy director and as an assistant to the special deputy secretary. He began his career at DEP working in the State Energy Office on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and green building projects. Mr. McDonnell received his Master's degree in Political Science from Lehigh University and his Bachelor's Degree in Politics from DeSales University.
+ Matthew McKinzie Natural Resources Defense Council
Matthew McKinzie currently directs the Nuclear Program at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) based in Washington, DC. Since joining NRDC in 1997, Matthew’s work has focused on nuclear energy, specifically the consequences of reactor accidents, nuclear waste policy, nuclear weapons proliferation and nuclear arms control agreements. In 2005, Matthew also began working with NRDC’s Land & Wildlife program where he performs geospatial analysis of the impacts of oil and gas extraction on the Rocky Mountain region and renewable energy siting in western states. Matthew holds a Ph.D. in experimental nuclear physics from the University of Pennsylvania, for which he conducted research at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico and at TRIUMF, Canada’s national laboratory for particle and nuclear physics in Vancouver. Matthew was a postdoctoral associate at Cornell University’s Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies before joining NRDC and he has also been a consultant for Human Rights Watch.
+ David Mohler Department of Energy, retired
David Mohler served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Clean Coal and Carbon Management within the Office of Fossil Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy from March 2015 through January 2017. He was responsible for the DOE’s R&D program in advanced fossil energy systems, large demonstration projects, carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), and clean coal technology deployment.
Previously, Mr. Mohler served as senior vice president and chief technology officer for Duke Energy.
Mr. Mohler has operational experience in both nuclear and fossil power generation, as well as experience in corporate marketing, human resources and business development. He earned a B.A. from Indiana University, a B.S. from the University of the State of New York at Albany, an M.A. from Xavier University of Cincinnati, and an M.S. from the University of Pennsylvania.
+ M. Granger Morgan Carnegie Mellon University
M. Granger Morgan is the Hamerschlag University Professor of Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. He holds appointments in three academic units: the Department of Engineering and Public Policy; the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering; and the H. John Heinz III College. His research addresses problems in science, technology and public policy with a particular focus on energy, environmental systems, climate change, the adoption of new technologies, and risk analysis. Much of his work has involved the development and demonstration of methods to characterize and treat uncertainty in quantitative policy analysis. At Carnegie Mellon, Morgan co-directs the NSF Center for Climate and Energy Decision Making and the university's Electricity Industry Center.
Morgan serves as Chair of the Scientific and Technical Council for the International Risk Governance Council. He is a member of the DOE's Electricity Advisory Committee and of the Energy Advisory Committee of PNNL. In the past, he served as Chair of the Science Advisory Board of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and as Chair of the Advisory Council of the Electric Power Research Institute. At the NAS, he has chaired or been a member of various committees. He currently chairs the Committee on Enhancing the Resilience of the Nation’s Electric Power Transmission and Distribution System and is the NAS co-chair of the Report Review Committee. He is a Member of the National Academy of Sciences, and a Fellow of the AAAS, the IEEE, and the Society for Risk Analysis. He holds a BA from Harvard College (1963) where he concentrated in Physics, an MS in Astronomy and Space Science from Cornell (1965) and a Ph.D. from the Department of Applied Physics and Information Sciences at the University of California at San Diego (1969).
+ John Quigley University of Pennsylvania
John Quigley is a management consultant, and is also a Senior Fellow at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy at the University of Pennsylvania. He is former Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, serving from January 2015 until May 2016, and of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, serving from 2009 to 2011.
Quigley is the first and only person in the history of Pennsylvania to hold the positions of both DCNR and DEP Secretary.
Quigley previously worked in a number of leadership positions at DCNR, and in the nonprofit, public, and private sectors. He founded a downtown revitalization non-profit organization, served eight years as the mayor of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, was an instructor in economics at a branch campus of Penn State University, wrote a newspaper column for a northeast Pennsylvania newspaper, worked as government relations manager with a statewide environmental non-profit organization, held management positions with manufacturing companies, and operated a small business providing consulting services to state/national/international NGO's, foundations, state/foreign governments, and private industry.
Quigley is a graduate of Bloomsburg University with a degree in economics, and holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Lehigh University. He has done additional graduate work in economics.
+ Jennie Stephens Northeastern University
Jennie C. Stephens is the Dean’s Professor of Sustainability Science & Policy at Northeastern University’s School of Public Policy & Urban Affairs in Boston. Her research, teaching, and community engagement focus on social and political aspects of the renewable energy transition, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, and strengthening societal resilience by responding to climate change. Her work explores institutional and cultural innovation in the energy sector, including gender diversity and energy democracy, technological optimism with regard to climate mitigation, and the “usability” of climate science in climate mitigation and adaptation. Professor Stephens is a 2015-2016 Leopold Leadership fellow, and her book “Smart Grid (R)Evolution: Electric Power Struggles” (Cambridge University Press, 2015) explores social and cultural debates about energy system change (co-authored with Wilson & Peterson). Before joining Northeastern University, Professor Stephens held the Blittersdorf Professorship at the University of Vermont (2014-2016) and before that she was on the faculty at Clark University (2005-2014). She earned her PhD (2002) and MS (1998) at Caltech in Environmental Science & Engineering and her BA (1997) at Harvard in Environmental Science & Public Policy.
+ David Titley Pennsylvania State University
David Titley is a Professor of Practice in Meteorology and a Professor of International Affairs at the Pennsylvania State University. He is the founding director of Penn State’s Center for Solutions to Weather and Climate Risk. He served as a naval officer for 32 years and rose to the rank of rear admiral. Dr. Titley’s career included duties as commander of the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command; oceanographer and navigator of the Navy; and deputy assistant chief of naval operations for information dominance. He also served as senior military assistant for the director, Office of Net Assessment in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. While serving in the Pentagon, Dr. Titley initiated and led the U.S. Navy’s Task Force on Climate Change.
After retiring from the Navy, Dr. Titley served as the deputy undersecretary of commerce for operations, the chief operating officer position at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Dr. Titley serves on numerous advisory boards and National Academies of Science committees, including the CNA Military Advisory Board and the Science and Security Board of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Dr. Titley is a fellow of the American Meteorological Society and was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks.