The Energy Workforce & Technology Council convened a roundtable with Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) Alex Krutz of the U.S. Department of Commerce to discuss strategies to strengthen U.S. manufacturing and export competitiveness in the energy sector. Hosted by Energy Workforce Board Policy Director, Matt Armstrong, Baker Hughes, the conversation highlighted the critical role of the services sector in the energy value chain.
The Office of Manufacturing Industries is the U.S. Government’s leading advocate for advancing the competitive position of U.S. manufacturing industries in the global marketplace. Relevant to the energy services sector, in his role as DAS, Krutz leads the Office of Energy and Environmental Industries (OEEI), along with three other offices related to telecom, health, and transportation.
The conversation with DAS Krutz highlighted:
- The critical role of Energy Workforce member companies in U.S. manufacturing, from drill bits in Houston to digital infrastructure components in Shreveport.
- The importance of global trade partnerships, supported through longstanding collaboration with the U.S. Commercial Service and international commercial offices.
- Economic challenges affecting U.S. competitiveness.
- A call to align trade policy with domestic manufacturing priorities to support job creation and energy leadership.
Energy Workforce has a longstanding relationship with the Department of Commerce, at the federal, local and international levels. This includes previous facility and member company tours during conference such as OTC, hosting events in Argentina and Saudi Arabia, and continued training of Commercial Officers abroad. Energy Workforce President Tim Tarpley also serves on the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Energy and Energy Services (ITAC 7).
Special thanks to DAS Krutz, Jason Wilson of the Houston Commercial Service, and Energy Workforce Board Members and Strategic Partners who joined the conversation.
Maria Suarez-Simmons, Senior Director Energy Policy, writes about industry-specific policies for the Energy Workforce & Technology Council. Click here to subscribe to the Energy Workforce newsletter, which highlights sector-specific issues, best practices, activities and more.
