Staff

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Robert L. Bradley Jr. is the CEO and founder of the Institute for Energy Research. As one of the nation’s leading experts on the history and regulation of energy markets, he has testified before the U.S. Congress and the California Energy Commission, as well as lectured at numerous colleges, universities, and think tanks around the country. Bradley’s views are frequently cited in the media, and his reviews and editorials have been published in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and other national publications.

Bradley is a visiting fellow at the Institute of Economic Affairs in London, an honorary research fellow at the Center for Energy Economics at the University of Texas at Austin, and an adjunct scholar at both the Cato Institute and the Competitive Enterprise Institute. He is a member of the academic review committee at the Institute for Humane Studies at George Mason University.

As the author of seven books, most recently Edison to Enron: Energy Markets and Political Strategies (John Wiley & Sons, Scrivener Publishing), Bradley has applied the classical liberal worldview to recent corporate controversies and energy policy debates. His energy primer (coauthored with Richard Fulmer) is Energy: The Master Resource.

Bradley received a B.A. in economics (with honors) from Rollins College, where he also won the S. Truman Olin Award in economics. He received an M.A. in economics from the University of Houston: and a Ph.D. in political economy (with distinction) from International College. He has been a Schultz Fellow for Economic Research and Liberty Fund Fellow for Economic Research, and in 2002 he received the Julian L. Simon Memorial Award for his work on energy and sustainable development.

He is currently a member of the International Association for Energy Economics, the American Economic Association, Southern Economic Association, and the American Historical Association.

Download Robert L. Bradley Jr.’s bio (PDF)

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Thomas J. Pyle is the president of the Institute for Energy Research (IER). In this capacity, Pyle brings a unique backdrop of public and private sector experience to help manage IER’s Washington, DC-based staff and operations. He also helps to develop the organization’s free market policy positions and implement education efforts with respect to key energy stakeholders, including policymakers, federal agency representatives, industry leaders, consumer entities and the media.

Previously, Pyle was the founder of his own consulting firm, Pyle Consulting, Inc., an active public affairs consulting firm with a wide range of private and not-for-profit customers. Prior to starting his own firm, Pyle served as vice president of the Rhoads Group in Washington, DC where he represented and advised a variety of association and corporate clients in meeting their strategic public policy goals and priorities. Additionally, he also served as director of federal affairs for a major integrated manufacturing and services company focusing on energy, environment, regulatory and transportation issues.

Before coming to the private sector, Pyle held numerous positions on Capitol Hill including serving a policy analyst for the Majority Whip of the U.S. House of Representatives and as staff director for the Congressional Western Caucus, as well as other legislative staff positions.

Pyle holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Southern California.

Download Thomas J. Pyle’s bio (PDF)

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Senior Vice President, Operations and Development
lwallace@ierdc.org

Lisa Wallace is senior vice president for development and operations at the Institute for Energy Research (IER).

Previously, Wallace spent twelve years working on Capitol Hill for Congressman George Radanovich and the House Committee on Resources. Initially, she worked as administrative assistant to Congressman Radanovich, where she served as senior advisor to the congressman on all matters of policy, personnel, political strategy and district operations and managed multi-million dollar budget, legislative, communications and support staff.

As Chief Financial Officer for the House Committee on Resources, Ms. Wallace managed and administered a $15 million bi-annual committee budget, oversaw all business operations of the full committee, its five subcommittees, and the Office of the Chief Clerk, and managed a 50-member professional staff.

Wallace is a graduate of California State University at Fullerton.

Download Lisa Wallace’s bio (PDF)

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Senior Vice President, Policy
dkish@ierdc.org

Dan Kish is a senior vice president for policy at the Institute for Energy Research (IER).

Kish has more than 25 years of experience on congressional committees focused principally upon natural resource and energy policies. His service includes the principal resource committees in the House and Senate, including six years as chief of staff for the Republicans on the House Resources Committee and four years on the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee staff.

His primary focus has been access to resources on government lands and in the waters of the Outer Continental Shelf, and specifically, upon the enormous conventional and unconventional energy there that waits to be allowed to add value to our nation’s well-being.

Kish is a graduate of Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Indiana.

Download Daniel Kish’s bio (PDF)

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Director of Regulatory and  State Affairs
dsimmons@ierdc.org

Daniel Simmons is IER’s Director of Regulatory and State Affairs. He oversees our energy research and outreach at the state level. Before joining IER, Simmons served as the Director of the Natural Resources Task Force at the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).

Prior to working for ALEC, Simmons was a Research Fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. He analyzed proposed federal regulations and wrote comments to federal agencies during the rulemaking process. He also drafted law review articles based on a current regulatory and legal issues.

Previous to working at the Mercatus Center, Simmons served as Legislative Staff for the Committee on Resources in the U.S. House of Representatives where he handled endangered species and forestry issues.

Simmons holds a B.A. in Economics from Utah State University and a J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He is a member of the Virginia State Bar.

Download Daniel R. Simmons’ bio (PDF)

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Director, Federal Affairs
rmillican@ierdc.org

Robin Millican is the Institute for Energy Research’s (IER) Director of Federal Affairs . In this capacity, Millican authors publications on a variety of energy topics, from future offshore drilling policy to federal subsidies for emerging energy technologies. Her responsibilities also include providing the policy analysis for IER’s direct engagement with federal regulatory authorities over proposed and existing regulations. Her writing has appeared in numerous trade journals, public policy reviews, and other energy-related periodicals.

Prior to joining IER, Millican was a legislative staff member in the office of U.S. Senator John Cornyn, where she was responsible for researching and communicating the Senator’s policy on energy and environmental issues.

Millican is a graduate of Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas.

Download Robin Millican’s bio (PDF)

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Director, Donor Relations
ddeberry@ierdc.org

Dustin DeBerry is Director of Donor Relations at the Institute for Energy Research. In this role he helps oversee communications and outreach to IER’s growing base of donors. He also assists in managing the day-to-day activities of IER.

DeBerry is a graduate from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and holds a B.A. in Public and International Affairs as well as a B.S. in Business Administration, concentration accounting.

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Director, Communications
bcole@ierdc.org

As Director of Communications for IER, Benjamin Cole guides the organization’s media strategy to promote free market-based solutions to meet today’s global energy and environmental challenges.  Before joining the IER leadership team, Cole served as a policy adviser and investigative analyst for the Republican staff of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform under Chairman Darrell Issa.

A native Texan, he began his career in public policy in 2008, after 13 years as an evangelical clergyman in the Southern Baptist Convention.  In this capacity, Cole was widely recognized and frequently profiled for his strategic political and media skills.

Cole is a graduate of Southeastern College at Wake Forest (B.A) and the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Download Benjamin Cole’s bio (PDF)

Director, Marketing
gthornton@ierdc.org

Genevieve Thornton is the Director of Marketing at the Institute for Energy Research.   In her role, Genevieve oversees marketing outreach to coalition partners, Capitol Hill staffers, industry partners, and donors.

Prior to her role at IER, Genevieve worked in marketing and sales for a private industrial textile firm and several media companies, including CNBC, Comedy Central, and NBC.

Thornton received her BA from Columbia College of Columbia University and her MBA from Columbia Business School.

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Director, Digital Media
jrussell@ierdc.org

Johnny Russell is the Director of Digital Media for IER. Following a year of working for a ranch and hunting outfitter in Wyoming, he joined the Heritage Foundation as an intern for the Enterprise and Free Market Initiative and focused on energy and regulatory policy. In January, 2012 Johnny began working for the digital media team at the Institute for Energy Research. In this capacity, Johnny oversees multiple online and social media platforms for the Institute for Energy Research and works to educate on energy policy issues with various mediums like videos and infographics.

Johnny Russell graduated from Colgate University in 2010 with a B.A. in International Relations.

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Digital Media Associate
mmorrison@ierdc.org

Mike Morrison is the Institute for Energy Research’s Digital Media Associate. In his role, Morrison manages IER’s various web projects including social media, website content, and graphic design.

Prior to this position, Morrison served as the Organizational Director for American Majority Action in Wisconsin, as Field Director for Wil Armstrong’s Congressional campaign in CO-6, and as a Research Fellow at Hillsdale College under Dr. Ivan Pongracic.

Morrison holds a B.A. in Economics and German from Hillsdale College.

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Press Secretary
cwarren@ierdc.org

Chris Warren is the Press Secretary at the Institute for Energy Research. In his role, Warren assists with both new media and traditional communications efforts. This includes managing website and social media content as well as writing press releases, policy analyses, and media advisories.

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Policy Associate
hbutler@ierdc.org

Hank is a policy associate at the Institute for Energy Research. In his role, Hank researches various energy issues and policies, specifically oil and natural gas development, nuclear power regulations, and renewable energy subsidies.

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Policy Associate
afitzsimmons@ierdc.org

Alex Fitzsimmons is a Policy Associate at the Institute for Energy Research. In his role, Alex researches various energy issues, including renewable energy subsidies, oil and natural gas development, and renewable electricity mandates. Prior to this position, Alex worked in the public affairs department of a national bipartisan association.

Alex holds a B.A. in Political Science from The George Washington University.