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PESA’s Foreign Service Officer Training Goes Virtual

PESA’s highly regarded Foreign Service Officer Energy Industry Training brought together 30 U.S. foreign and civil service officers stationed in 24 countries in a virtual format for the first time. Moved online due to the pandemic, the training provides U.S. Department of State personnel with an overview of technical content and details of oil and gas industry achievements in efficiency, sustainability, global poverty reduction and local development.

2020’s Foreign Service Officer Program Virtual Class

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“The PESA FSO training course is a collaborative effort designed to familiarize foreign and civil service officers with the energy industry, driving stronger collaboration with operations in country and influencing informed energy policy decisions in country. Like other PESA training programs, the FSO course addresses advanced technologies that drive our industry, as well as the dynamic geopolitical and economic landscape in which we operate.”
PESA President Leslie Beyer[/su_pullquote]

PESA founded the training program 28 years ago to educate global energy influencers on technological innovations and business dynamics of the energy industry. The program strengthens relationships between industry and U.S. interests abroad and promotes better-informed decisions at embassy posts around the world.

PESA’s International Programs Committee designed the curriculum in collaboration with E&P partners, academia and PESA members. Sessions could not be held in person this fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the committee members agreed it was important to provide the training virtually to continue familiarizing foreign and civil service officers with the energy industry to drive stronger collaboration with operations in countries around the world and influence energy policy decisions.

In the virtual four-day program, students viewed pre-recorded presentations from industry and subject matter experts at Baker Hughes, BP, Chevron, Citi, ConocoPhillips, Gaffney, Cline & Associates, Halliburton, NOV, Rice University’s Baker Institute, Schlumberger and TechnipFMC.

Throughout the week, the group engaged in live question and answer sessions with company representatives about topics such as the Global Role of the Energy Industry, Energy Transition, Technologies that Drive the Industry, International Regulatory Landscape and the Future of the Industry.

Small group networking sessions were a highlight during the week. These sessions provided PESA members with the opportunity to connect with FSOs who will serve in countries where they have operations.

To meet growing interest from the U.S. State Department and Foreign Service Institute, PESA conducts FSO trainings twice a year. The next session is scheduled for February 2021.

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