Francis R. Fannon serves as the Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Energy Resources (ENR) at the U.S Department of State. He oversees U.S. foreign policy in the critical intersection of energy and national security and promotes U.S. interests to ensure energy resources are used to increase economic opportunity, stability, and prosperity around the world. Assistant Secretary Fannon advises the Secretary on strategies to promote universal access to affordable and reliable energy resources and to strengthen energy security through policies that advance diverse, transparent, and secure global markets for all energy types.
Prior to this role, Mr. Fannon was the managing director of BHP’s Washington, DC Corporate Affairs office, where he developed a comprehensive U.S. strategy for the world’s largest diversified resources company. Before BHP, Mr. Fannon was a senior director at Murphy Oil Corporation in Washington, DC.
Mr. Fannon previously served as counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. In that capacity, he drafted, negotiated, and helped pass into law key provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. He also served as counsel to Senators Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-CO) and Pete V. Domenici (R-NM).
Mr. Fannon earned a J.D. from the University of Denver (DU) Sturm College of Law, a M.A. in International Affairs (Economics & Trade) from DU’s Korbel School of International Studies, and a B.A. from Radford University.