President Donald Trump last week announced he intends to nominate Energy Secretary Rick Perry’s deputy, Dan Brouillette, to succeed him at the helm of the agency.
Trump announced the move via Twitter on Friday, touting Brouillette’s experience in the energy sector. Brouillette is a native of Paincourtville in Assumption Parish. He is currently the Deputy Secretary of Energy and will succeed outgoing Secretary Rick Perry, pending confirmation in the Senate. He has served as Perry’s No. 2 since August 2017. He was also previously an assistant secretary under President George W. Bush.
Brouillette has deep ties to Louisiana and its energy sector. He was chief of staff to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce under former Republican U.S. Rep. Billy Tauzin. He has also served as a member of Louisiana’s State Mineral and Energy Board.
Brouillette is a U.S. Army veteran. He also previously worked as a vice president at Ford Motor Company and as the head of public policy and senior vice president at United Services Automobile Association (USAA).
President Trump tweeted about Brouillette last week, saying: “… I am pleased to nominate Deputy Secretary Dan Brouillette to be the new Secretary of Energy. Dan’s experience in the sector is unparalleled. A total professional, I have no doubt that Dan will do a great job!”
Republican U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, who serves as chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Energy, praised the nomination. “Dan Brouillette understands the relationship between energy policy and the overall economy. Louisiana workers depend on thought-through energy policy,” Cassidy said in a statement. “Mr. Brouillette’s experience will serve the country well as the United States pursues energy dominance and energy employment.”
