A fifth generation Montanan, Steve Daines brings 28 years of private-sector business experience to Washington, D.C. as he serves the people of Montana in the U.S. Senate.
Steve grew up in Bozeman, Montana, and graduated from Montana State University with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. He spent 13 years in management for Procter & Gamble. For six of those years, Steve was based in Guangzhou, China, launching American brands to compete against Chinese companies.
In 1997, Steve and his wife Cindy moved their family back home to Montana, where Steve joined his family construction business. In 2000, Steve joined RightNow Technologies, a cloud computing start-up founded and headquartered in Bozeman, where he served as Vice President and later oversaw operations in Asia-Pacific. RightNow was a pioneer in SaaS and experienced rapid growth, and became a publicly traded company in 2004. RightNow had 17 offices around the world and products in 33 languages before being acquired by Oracle in 2012 for $1.8B.
In the U.S. Senate, Steve serves on the Committees on Finance, Foreign Relations, Energy and Indian Affairs. He has long worked for tax and regulatory policies that encourage innovation and unleash domestic energy production to support growing energy demand.
Steve has been married to Cindy for 38 years. They live in Bozeman and are the parents of four and grandparents to six. Steve and his family enjoy backpacking, hunting, skiing and fly fishing.
Bio to appear soon.
Bio to appear soon.
Anthony Pugliese is the Director of the Office of Technology Transitions and the Chief Commercialization Officer of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). In this role, he leads efforts to accelerate commercialization of innovative energy technologies, strengthen public-private partnerships, and enhance technology transfer from DOE’s National Labs.
Before joining DOE, Mr. Pugliese held leadership roles in both the public and private sectors. In the private sector, he focused on energy, permitting, economic development, and national security, advising businesses and organizations on navigating regulatory landscapes and advancing strategic initiatives.
In the federal government, Mr. Pugliese previously served as the Chief of Staff at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Along with overseeing the Commission’s daily activities, he led efforts to improve interagency coordination. He negotiated key memoranda of understanding (MOUs) promoting efficiencies between federal agencies, most notably the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration in the U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Department of the Interior. He also spearheaded MOUs with several countries, including Mexico, Japan, India, and Israel, to strengthen energy cooperation.
Prior to his role at FERC, Mr. Pugliese served as the Senior White House Adviser at the U.S. Department of Transportation, where he played a key role in overseeing all aspects of the department, including various modes of mobility and regulatory reform. Earlier in his career, he was Director of Legislative Affairs for the Pennsylvania Governor’s Office and at the Department of Community and Economic Development, where he served on several technology and economic boards.
Lou Hrkman is the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy within the U.S. Department of Energy. In this role, he oversees a $3.2 billion budget focused on the research, development, validation, and effective utilization of renewable energy and efficiency technologies that improve the affordability, reliability, resiliency, and security of the American energy system.
Mr. Hrkman has more than two decades of experience in the energy industry, including work in both the public and private sectors. Prior to his current position, he was an Energy Advisor to Congresswoman Debbie Lesko of Arizona, working on several energy and water issues and playing an instrumental role in the development of legislation to reform the Energy Policy and Conservation Act and various energy efficiency rules. Mr. Hrkman also served as a Senior Policy Advisor for the House Select Committee on Climate, Minority Staff, and a Policy Advisor to Congressman David D. McKinley of West Virginia. In this role, he advised Congressman McKinley on various policy issues and pending legislation pertaining to energy and the environment. Mr. Hrkman also served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Advanced Energy Systems and Carbon Management within the Department of Energy. In this position, Mr. Hrkman oversaw the Department’s research, development, and demonstration initiatives in advanced, fossil fuel-based power systems, critical mineral development, rare earth elements, and carbon capture, sequestration, and storage.
Mr. Hrkman held various management positions over a 25-year span, including serving as an Officer in the United States Air Force. He earned his BA in Political Science and Government from Miami University, his MPA from the University of South Dakota, and his MBA from the College of William and Mary.
U.S. Congressman Jay Obernolte proudly represents California’s 23rd District in the U.S. House of Representatives. A video game developer and business owner, Rep. Obernolte is dedicated to ensuring the High Desert and Inland Empire have a strong voice fighting for their interests in Congress.
Rep. Obernolte proudly serves on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce where he is a member of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology; the Subcommittee on Health; and the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade. He also serves on the House Budget Committee and House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Research and Technology. He is currently the only serving member of Congress with a graduate-level degree in AI.
Previously, Rep. Obernolte served as a member of the California State Legislature representing the state’s 33rd Assembly District and as Mayor of the City of Big Bear Lake. He has also served on the boards of the Big Bear Lake Fire Protection District, the Mojave Desert and Mountain Integrated Waste Authority, the Mountain Regional Transit Authority, the League of California Cities Desert-Mountain Division, and the Big Bear City Airport District. In these positions he worked across partisan lines to pass legislation helping California’s hardworking families by lowering taxes, stopping government encroachment into privacy and personal liberties, and upholding law and order. He has also been a strong advocate for local veterans, defending funding for the Barstow Veterans Home and helping ensure California veterans receive the care and respect their service has earned.
Rep. Obernolte lives in Big Bear Lake with his wife, Heather. They have two sons, Hale and Troy. In addition to owning a videogame development studio, Rep. Obernolte is a certified flight instructor and a teacher of martial arts. He holds a B.S. in Engineering and Applied Science from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), an M.S. in Artificial Intelligence from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and a Doctorate in Public Administration from California Baptist University (CBU).
U.S. Congressman Jay Obernolte proudly represents California’s 23rd District in the U.S. House of Representatives. A video game developer and business owner, Rep. Obernolte is dedicated to ensuring the High Desert and Inland Empire have a strong voice fighting for their interests in Congress.
Rep. Obernolte proudly serves on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce where he is a member of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology; the Subcommittee on Health; and the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade. He also serves on the House Budget Committee and House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Research and Technology. He is currently the only serving member of Congress with a graduate-level degree in AI.
Previously, Rep. Obernolte served as a member of the California State Legislature representing the state’s 33rd Assembly District and as Mayor of the City of Big Bear Lake. He has also served on the boards of the Big Bear Lake Fire Protection District, the Mojave Desert and Mountain Integrated Waste Authority, the Mountain Regional Transit Authority, the League of California Cities Desert-Mountain Division, and the Big Bear City Airport District. In these positions he worked across partisan lines to pass legislation helping California’s hardworking families by lowering taxes, stopping government encroachment into privacy and personal liberties, and upholding law and order. He has also been a strong advocate for local veterans, defending funding for the Barstow Veterans Home and helping ensure California veterans receive the care and respect their service has earned.
Rep. Obernolte lives in Big Bear Lake with his wife, Heather. They have two sons, Hale and Troy. In addition to owning a videogame development studio, Rep. Obernolte is a certified flight instructor and a teacher of martial arts. He holds a B.S. in Engineering and Applied Science from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), an M.S. in Artificial Intelligence from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and a Doctorate in Public Administration from California Baptist University (CBU).
Bio to appear soon.
Ms. Bajada has over 23 years of experience in EU affairs and 20 years in foreign policy. Between 2020-2024, she was the Deputy Director/Head of Division United States and Canada in the European External Action Service (EEAS). She has also served as the Political Advisor to the EEAS Secretary General (2019-2020) and was posted in Chile (2015-2019) and Lebanon (2012-2015).
Ms. Bajada joined the European institutions in 2002 and worked at the European Parliament and the Secretariat General of the Council of Ministers.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Malta, a master’s degree in European studies from the College of Europe (Bruges-Belgium), and a master’s degree in International Relations from ULB/Paris II.
Bio to appear soon.
Bio to appear soon.
Brad Johnson has over 15 years of utility and energy industry experience, ranging from the early use of LiDAR to solve vegetation management issues to emerging applications used for graphic work design and digital twin technologies. In his current role, Brad leads Bentley Systems’ focus on the Electric Utility industry, with positioning and strategy around software solutions such as PLS, SPIDA, EasyPower, OpenUtilities, and others. Through his first-hand experiences and trade knowledge, he enjoys sharing insights across multiple industry venues including standards organizations, international conferences, local and international governing bodies, and in one-on-one interactions with industry leaders.
Mr. Bradley Williams is a Senior Policy Advisor and Lead for Energy Policy and Strategic Analysis at Idaho National Laboratory. In this role, Brad serves as an expert on a range of issues related to the technical, economic and policy aspects of nuclear energy.
Brad also serves as Vice Chair for the American Nuclear Society’s Public Policy Committee. He is also a member of the Society’s External Affairs Committee, Congressional Fellow Program Special Committee, and Nuclear Waste Task Force.
Brad was previously detailed to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Committee, where Brad covered the Committee’s nuclear energy and science policy portfolios for Ranking Member John Barrasso (R-WY).
Brad moved to the Energy Committee after serving as the American Nuclear Society’s Glenn T. Seaborg Congressional Science and Engineering Fellow in 2020, covering nuclear regulatory issues for then Chairman Barrasso on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
Before joining Idaho National Laboratory, Brad spent twelve years with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy, most recently as Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy. Brad previously served as Team Lead for Nuclear Energy Enabling Technologies and Nuclear Energy University Programs. He also managed multiple programs within the Office of Fuel Cycle Research and Development and spent time as the Acting Assistant Manager for Research and Development at the Idaho Operations Office. During his time with the Department of Energy, Brad received four Secretary of Energy Awards.
Prior to the Department of Energy, Brad worked for Science Applications International Corporation in support of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s Cooperative Threat Reduction Program, where he was the project manager for the Strategic Nuclear Arms Elimination program.
Brad received his bachelor’s degree in physics from Mary Washington College and master’s degree in physics from Virginia Tech. He lives in Alexandria, VA with his wife and two children.
Bio to appear soon.
Bio to appear soon.
Harry Krejsa is the Director of Studies at the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy & Technology in Washington, D.C.
Harry joined Carnegie Mellon University from the White House’s Office of the National Cyber Director where he oversaw cyber and technology strategy for domestic and international policy. While there Harry co-directed the development and rollout of the 2023 National Cybersecurity Strategy, led the establishment of advanced energy security priorities, and represented the U.S. government in consultations with foreign partners and the global private sector.
Prior to joining the White House, Harry oversaw strategy and U.S.-China competition for the Department of Defense’s cyber policy office, including the 2018 DoD Cyber Strategy and inaugural Cyber Posture Review. He developed initial military guidance for new offensive authorities to deter and disrupt adversary cyber campaigns, and negotiated “Hunt Forward” joint operations with foreign militaries to root out malware on strategic systems. Upon leaving DoD Harry was awarded the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service.
Harry also served as Director of the Integration Cell at the U.S. Cyberspace Solarium Commission, where he led research on emerging technology trends and their implications for U.S. government policy. He oversaw the Commission’s strategy and policy development on norms and values in technology design, artificial intelligence, election cybersecurity, and China’s influence over strategic technologies. Before joining government, Harry was a fellow at the Center for a New American Security where he researched U.S.-China economic and technology competition, broader Indo-Pacific security strategy, and the interaction of foreign policy with economic trends in the United States.
Harry, hailing from rural Iowa, holds a master’s degree in International Relations from the Princeton University School of Public and International Affairs and a B.A. in Political Science and East Asian Studies from Grinnell College. A Chinese speaker, Harry also studied at Nanjing University in China and completed a Fulbright Fellowship in Taiwan.
Bio to appear soon.
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The Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy & Technology or “CMIST” is a university-wide initiative dedicated to the wise development, use and governance of new and emerging technologies that are changing war and peace. The home for Carnegie Mellon University’s study of Political Science and International Relations, CMIST is uniquely poised to take advantage of the university’s strengths in computer science and engineering, and its distinctive tradition of cross-university, cross-disciplinary research. Focused on questions of power and governance, CMIST builds new frameworks for managing global and national security challenges.
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