Mark Christie

Former Chairman, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

President Donald Trump named Mark Christie to be chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on Jan. 20, 2025.

Before joining the FERC, Christie served as the chairman of the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) for nearly 17 years. The SCC is responsible for regulating utilities, insurance and banking within the state of Virginia. During his tenure, Christie was elected to the Virginia SCC three times by the Virginia legislature, receiving bipartisan support each time.

During his service as a state regulator, Christie was elected president of the Organization of PJM States Inc. (OPSI), an organization of utility regulators representing the 13 states and the District of Columbia which participate in the PJM transmission and markets organization. He served for more than a decade on the OPSI governing board. He also served as president of the Mid-Atlantic Conference of Regulatory Utilities Commissioners (MARUC), a regional chapter of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC).

Christie taught regulatory law for a decade as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Virginia School of Law and taught constitutional law and government for 20 years in a doctoral program at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Paul Cole

Bank of America Securities Research Analyst

Paul Cole has more than 30 years of experience as a Wall Street research analyst.

He is expert in the domestic power and water utility sectors and has a deep understanding of companies, trends and business models in the utility, power and renewable sectors.

Cole’s vast experience includes initiating and maintaining an active research coverage universe of publicly traded electric and water utilities He provides insights on both individual companies and the energy sector more broadly.

Gen. Stanley McChrystal

Co-founder of the McChrystal Group; best-selling author; former commander of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan

The son and grandson of Army officers, Gen. Stanley McChrystal graduated from West Point in 1976 and was commissioned as an infantry officer. He later trained at the Special Forces School in Fort Bragg, North Carolina and spent much of his career commanding special operations and airborne infantry units. During the Persian Gulf War, McChrystal served in a Joint Special Operations Task Force and later commanded the 75^th Ranger Regiment.

In 2002, he was appointed chief of staff of military operations in Afghanistan. Two years later, McChrystal was selected to deliver the nationally televised Pentagon briefings about military operations in Iraq. From 2003–2008, he commanded JSOC and was responsible for leading the nation’s deployed military counter-terrorism efforts around the globe, assuming command of all international forces in Afghanistan in June 2009. President Obama’s order for an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan was based on McChrystal’s assessment of the war.

After retiring from the U.S. Army, General McChrystal turned his expertise to the business world. He is the founder and CEO of the McChrystal Group, which helps Fortune 500 companies strike the right balance between hierarchical and decentralized team mindsets and structures.

Tricia Pridemore

President, National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners

Tricia Pridemore was named president of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) this year. She is the first Georgian to serve as president in 19 years. 

She was elected to the Georgia Public Service Commission in 2018 and serves on many boards in the energy industry, working on constructive solutions to our nation’s electric transmission, pipeline safety and diversified energy generation including natural gas, nuclear solar and American coal.

Pridemore is recognized by Georgia Trend Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential Georgians. She served on both the 2019 transition team of Gov. Brian Kemp and the 2011 transition team of Governor Nathan Deal. She co-chaired both of Governor Nathan Deal’s inaugurals.