New initiative to incubate new generation of veterans to lead advanced energy economy
WASHINGTON, DC – November 22, 2019 – The Atlantic Council Global Energy Center announced today the launch of its Veterans Advanced Energy Project. This innovative initiative will recruit, equip, and empower a new generation of veterans, servicemembers, and military spouses to serve as leaders of the advanced energy economy and contribute to long-term US national security and economic competitiveness.
“America’s veterans are our nation’s greatest asset, and they have an acute understanding of the role energy plays in our national security,” said General James L. Jones, executive chairman emeritus of the Atlantic Council and former US National Security Advisor and 32nd Commandant of the US Marine Corps. “The experience and knowledge veterans gain while serving in uniform is unparalleled, which is why we are tapping this incredible resource to raise awareness of how the evolving energy landscape will be a decisive factor for our future security and prosperity.”
The Veterans Advanced Energy Project will have a national reach, featuring veteran fellows from across the United States and a major annual summit. This flagship event is designed to address the trends, technologies, and policies that are shaping the energy sector and to develop a community of veterans and allies committed to advancing US energy leadership. The next summit will take place August 2020 in Chicago. The program will feature business and military leaders, policymakers, and industry stakeholders with insights into where energy markets and energy technologies are heading, and how this impacts the economic competitiveness and national security of the United States. It will also highlight the role of veterans and military spouses in energy and will open doors to new career opportunities for those in transition.
A key component of the project is the Veterans Advanced Energy Fellowship, which seeks to create a cadre of future leaders within the advanced energy industry. The program provides a select group of high-performing, high-potential leaders with policy and skills training, mentorship from senior national security and energy leaders, and exposure to key workforce development opportunities. Fellows will also organize site visits, training opportunities, and other special projects for fellow veterans and allies throughout the year. The Project is pleased to welcome its first class of fellows:
- Heather Takle, US Marine Corps Veteran, Boston MA
- Ryan Edwards, US Navy Veteran, Austin TX
- Sarah Nielsen, US Army Veteran, Detroit MI
- Jack Boger, US Marine Corps Veteran, San Francisco CA
- Zach Roberts, Ohio Air National Guard, Dayton OH
The Veterans Advanced Energy Project will receive strategic guidance from its advisory committee, which will be led by honorary chair General James L. Jones. The advisory group will consist of leaders in the energy and national security fields, and includes:
- Sherri Goodman, Board Member, Atlantic Council; first Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Environmental Security
- Dorothy Robyn, former Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Installations & Environment
- Vice Admiral Dennis V. McGinn, former Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations, and the Environment
- Joe Bryan, Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council Global Energy Center; former Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy
- Morgan Bazilian, Director, Payne Institute for Public Policy, Colorado School of Mines, former Lead Energy Specialist, World Bank
- Jon Powers, Co-Founder and President, Clean Capital; Former Federal Chief Sustainability Officer of the United States
- Kevin Johnson, President, GlidePath Federal Solutions;
- Liz Ramsay Dalton, Executive Director, Clean Energy Leadership Institute; former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Energy (OE)
The Veterans Advanced Energy Project is made possible thanks to the generous support from the MacArthur Foundation, Exelon Corporation, and founding sponsor Invenergy. At the 2019 Veterans Advanced Energy Summit, Invenergy hosted a reception at their downtown Chicago headquarters with tours of their Invenergy Control Center and remarks about energy entrepreneurship led by Bunker Labs. Exelon exclusively sponsored travel scholarships that enabled 40 veterans from 17 states and the District of Columbia to attend the event.
More information on the Veterans Advanced Energy Project can be found at www.vetsenergyproject.org.