Smith, James W.

Mr. Smith has a long history of government service that continues to this day.  He presently serves as the Executive Director of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC), a multi-state government agency whose mission is to promote the conservation and efficient recovery of the nation's domestic oil and natural gas resources while protecting health, safety and the environment.  The IOGCC's membership is comprised of 30 member states, eight associate states and eight international affiliate country members.  As Executive Director of the IOGCC, Mr. Smith is responsible for providing advocacy, coordination, education and strategy to the IOGCC's member and associate states on key domestic energy issues.

Mr. Smith also acts as of counsel to the firm and provides expertise in the areas of energy law and government relations.  Mr. Smith's extensive expertise resulted in him serving as Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy, US Department of Energy, from 2002 to 2004.  He served as the primary policy advisor to Secretary Spencer Abraham on federal coal, petroleum, and natural gas programs, including extensive research and development efforts.  Smith's responsibilities included overseeing and organization of nearly 1,000 scientists, engineers, technicians and administrative staff in two national laboratories, four field offices and at DOE's headquarters in Washington, D.C.  He was responsible for several high-priority Presidential initiatives, including implementation of the Bush Administration's $2 billion development of a new generation of environmentally sound, clean coal technologies and the $1 billion FutreGen Project.  Duties also included managing the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve and the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve.

Mr. Smith's international experience includes service with the Secretary General, Ministry of Science and Technology, People's Republic of China, as a co-chair of the US-China Oil and Gas Forum and as Chairman of the Policy Group, Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum (CSLF).  CSLF is a Bush Administration initiative with a 21 country membership seeking technical solutions to the capture and storage of carbon dioxide from energy generating facilities.  Additionally, he helped formulate bilateral fossil energy protocols with Australia, India, Norway and Russia.

From 1995 to 2002, he served as Oklahoma Secretary of Energy in the cabinet of former Governor Fran Keating, He was responsible for fossil energy policy and oversight of seven major state energy agencies and commissions.  He served as the Governor's Official Representative to the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC), the Southern States Energy Board, the Interstate Mining Compact Commission, and the Governor's Ethanol Coalition.  He served as the IOGCC's Vice Chairman in 1999.

Mr. Smith also served as President of the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association (1994) and operated an independent oil and gas exploration company based in Oklahoma City.