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PESA Foreign Service Officers Industry Training Enters 27th Year

PESA hosted its highly regarded Oil and Gas Industry Training Program for 26 U.S. foreign and civil service officers from the Departments of State and Commerce February 3-6.

The training program was developed 27 years ago to educate global energy influencers on technological innovations and business dynamics of our industry, allowing for stronger relationships between industry/U.S. interests abroad and promoting better-informed decisions at embassy posts around the world. Throughout the week, the group heard from industry and subject matter experts from Baker Hughes, BP, Chevron, Citi, ConocoPhillips, Gaffney, Cline & Associates, Halliburton, NOV, Rice University’s Baker Institute, Schlumberger and TechnipFMC.

On the afternoon of the first day of training, the FSOs toured Wiess Energy Hall at the Museum of Natural Science where they were able to experience the comprehensive and technologically advanced exhibition on the science and technology of energy.

PESA Board and Advisory Board members met with the FSOs for an industry dinner on the third evening of the course. U.S. Ambassador Virginia Palmer, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Energy Resources, addressed the group, thanking PESA for directing the program and emphasizing the importance of collaboration between industry and State.

PESA Members also attended a luncheon with the FSOs on the last day of the program, February 6, at NOV. During the luncheon, attendees had the opportunity to hear from a panel including Ambassador Palmer, Mamadou Beye, General Manager – Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Africa & Latin America E&P, Chevron, and Kartapurkh Khalsa, Senior Counsel & Director of Customs Compliance, NOV. The discussion, moderated by James Prince, General Counsel, Government Affairs, Schlumberger, focused on how the State Department and the energy industry can support one another, communicate better and collaborate on current and on-going issues.

[su_quote cite=”Leslie Beyer, President, PESA”]“The PESA FSO Industry 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 Industry Training course addresses advanced technologies that drive our industry, as well as the dynamic geopolitical and economic landscape in which we operate.” [/su_quote]

PESA’s International Programs Committee, which directs and develops the FSO Program, includes Committee Chair Lindsy Sallee, NOV; Committee Board Liaison Chris Cragg, Executive Vice President – Operations, Oil States International; Julia Price-Madison, Baker Hughes; Mike Bowie, Baker Hughes; Felix Soepyan, BJ Services; Andy Knapp, BP; Chris Berrie, Caterpillar Oil & Gas; Jill Kano, Chevron; Mack Moore, ConocoPhillips; Elizabeth Stephens, DistributionNOW; Todd Ennenga, Halliburton; Dr. Ken Medlock, Rice University; Bruce Miller, Schlumberger; and Jeff Mathews, TechnipFMC. This committee of both PESA Members and operator partners develops the FSO training course curriculum with a focus on specializing technical content and promoting industry’s achievements in efficiency, sustainability, global poverty reduction and local content development.

To meet growing interest from the U.S. State Department and Foreign Service Institute, PESA conducts FSO trainings twice a year. The next training session is scheduled for August 17-20, 2020.

PESA thanks all of the companies and individuals who provided their time, expertise and leadership to make this critical program a success.

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