PESA Foreign and Civil Service Officer Oil and Gas Industry Training Program – August 2017
On August 7-10, 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, Commerce, Energy and USAID. The training program was developed 24 years ago to educate global energy influencers on technological innovations and business dynamics of our industry, allowing for stronger relationships between industry/US 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 at Baker Hughes, a GE company, Chevron, Citi, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, FairfieldNodal, Gaffney, Cline & Associates, Halliburton, National Oilwell Varco, Rice University’s Baker Institute, Schlumberger and TechnipFMC.
PESA’s International Programs Committee, who directs and develops the FSO Program, includes committee chairman Jock Pool, Oceaneering International, Inc.; Dan Domeracki, Schlumberger; Matt Armstrong, Baker Hughes, a GE company; Irene Flores, Chevron; Clent Rawlinson, DistributionNOW; Mack Moore, ConocoPhillips; Dr. Ken Medlock, Rice University; Jon Landes, TechnipFMC; Mike Bowie, Baker Hughes, a GE company; Bob Moran, Halliburton; Laura Logan, ExxonMobil; Barry Donaldson, TETRA Technologies and Lindsy Sallee, National Oilwell Varco. 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.
PESA Board and Advisory Board members met with the FSOs for an industry dinner on the third evening of the course. John McCarrick, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, U.S. Department of State 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, August 10, at the Baker Hughes Center for Technology Innovation. During the luncheon, attendees heard from Christopher Smith, Baker Institute Advisory Board Fellow in Energy Studies. Smith spoke to the value of influence the Foreign Service Officers will have as they venture to their new posts across the globe.
“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,” said Leslie Beyer, PESA President. “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.”
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 February 2018.
PESA thanks all of the companies and individuals who provided their time, expertise and leadership to make this critical program a success.
