OIL SHOCKWAVE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director of the Ambassador Alfred Hoffman, Jr. Center for Critical Minerals Strategy
Abigail Wulf is the Director of the Ambassador Alfred Hoffman, Jr. Center for Critical Minerals Strategy at SAFE. Abigail brings broad Earth science expertise to the Center, from researching rare earth- and lithium-rich pegmatites to working with NASA researchers to convey the connections between Earth's component systems. She previously served as Senior Science Communicator for Research within NASA's Earth Science Division. She also served as Policy Manager for the American Geosciences Institute, a nonpartisan federation of more than 50 professional scientific societies. While at AGI, Abigail co-led the Minerals Science and Information Coalition, a broad-based alliance of organizations representing all stages of the critical minerals supply chain.
Job Titles:
- Director of Government Relations
- Legislative Director
Over the past 8 years, Alexander has worked with Congressional leadership on both sides of the aisle to introduce, negotiate, and pass bipartisan laws. Alexander's areas of policy expertise include technology, transportation, foreign policy, intelligence, defense, and homeland security.
As Legislative Director, Alexander ensured Rep. Steve Russell became one of the most prolific and effective lawmakers in his Freshman class. As a result, Rep. Russell is currently ranked the #4 most effective legislator (out of a peer group of 59 Representatives newly elected in 2014). Alexander has facilitated the Congressman's introduction of 37 bills (149% above peer group), of which 9 bills passed the House (176% above peer group) and 4 bills were signed into law (408% above peer group).
As Dep. Chief of Staff, Alexander leveraged deep knowledge of political leadership dynamics to propel Rep. Russell into the chairmanship of the National Security Subcommittee, and secured the Congressman's status as the presumptive Chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee at the conclusion of the current leader's term-a rare honor for such a junior lawmaker.
Job Titles:
- Critical Minerals Research Fellow
Job Titles:
- Managing Director of Corporate Engagements
- Managing Director of Corporate Relations at Securing America 's Future Energy
Alyssa Siddiqui is Managing Director of Corporate Relations at Securing America's Future Energy (SAFE). She is responsible for identifying and implementing innovative strategies to enhance SAFE's profile, expand its donor base, and develop new opportunities for engagement and growth.
Alyssa joined SAFE after over a decade at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, most recently as the Senior Director of Corporate Relations, where she led the strategy and execution of an integrated fundraising plan to achieve an annual revenue goal of over $9 million. She managed high-level corporate recruitment of new members, expanded relationships with existing clients and key stakeholders and launched the Let's Rebuild America infrastructure initiative. Alyssa also oversaw the U.S. Chamber's largest signature event, The Aviation Summit, held annually in Washington, DC which attracted over 900 attendees and participants, including top CEOs and industry leaders.
Alyssa began her career at the National Park Foundation working on the capital campaign for the Flight 93 National Memorial Fund. She graduated from Colby College with a Bachelors of Science in Government. She is a member of the Advisory Council, German American Aviation Heritage Foundation.
Job Titles:
- Director of Strategic Communications, the Coalition for Reimagined Mobility
Job Titles:
- Director of Communications
Job Titles:
- Manager, Ambassador Alfred Hoffman, Jr. Center for Critical Minerals Strategy
Danielle Woodring is the Manager of the Ambassador Alfred Hoffman, Jr. Center for Critical Minerals Strategy at SAFE. Danielle brings real-world geological and science policy expertise to the Center. After obtaining her Master of Science in structural geology and geological mapping, Danielle worked as a geologist for the Washington Department of Natural Resources, Washington Geological Survey, and the U.S. Geological Survey. Prior to her master's research, she served as a Policy Associate for the American Geosciences Institute and worked for the American Geophysical Union. Her multi-faceted career provides her with insights into the science and policies informing all aspects of the critical minerals supply chain, from discovery and extraction to development and manufacturing.
Job Titles:
- Programming and Policy Associate
Job Titles:
- Shared Mobility Policy Manager, the Coalition for Reimagined Mobility
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Development
- Vice President of Development for SAFE
Gourang Wakade is the Vice President of Development for SAFE and its sister organization, the Electrification Coalition (EC).
He leads a lean development team to develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy that yields sustained multi-year funding results. Building on the success achieved to date by SAFE EC, Gourang manages a collective fundraising portfolio of $16 Million and is in charge of the overall development systems and strategy while focusing primarily on identifying, cultivating, and soliciting high net worth individuals and foundations, with particular attention on increasing unrestricted funding for both organizations.
He is an experienced fundraiser with a large and varied global network and has proven success in raising and securing multi-year six-figure plus funding commitments for complex and demanding projects across a variety of industries including non-profit, corporate finance, and higher education. Prior to SAFE, Gourang served as the Vice President of Development for the Council on Competitiveness, a non-profit membership association of CEOs, University Presidents, Labor Leaders, and National Lab Directors. In addition to managing membership, and development at the Council on Competitiveness, Gourang was the lead for the organization's bi-annual fundraiser, the America Competes Award, that honored Business and Civic Leaders for their contributions to ensure American Competitiveness. He also produced and managed sponsorships for the organization's Annual National Competitiveness Summit. Gourang also served as the Director of Conferences and Engagement, for the Global Federation of Competitiveness Councils where he actively recruited leaders from around the world to join and fund the establishment of the organization.
Gourang has a Bachelor's in Arts degree from the College of Wooster, Oh. He also serves on the Fundraising Committee for the Spring Gala of the Hillwood Estate Museum and Gardens in Washington, DC.
Job Titles:
- Finance
- Vice President, Operations
- Vice President of Operations and Finance at Securing America 's Future Energy
Jackie Burman is the Vice President of Operations and Finance at Securing America's Future Energy. In this role, Jackie works closely with the CEO and Vice President of Development to develop foundation and individual solicitation and engagement strategies for SAFE.
Prior to joining SAFE, Ms. Burman spent more than 4 years in Cape Town, South Africa where she assisted a wide range of non-profit organizations in reaching their funding goals. During her time abroad, she also helped create a fundraising academy to provide young adults with the skills necessary to begin careers in development. She worked in both marketing and fundraising in DC before this.
Ms. Burman holds a Bachelor of Art's Degree from UNC-Chapel Hill and Masters' degrees in business administration and Jewish Communal Service from Brandeis University.
Job Titles:
- Director, Transportation Policy and Strategic Content
- Senior Policy Analyst at Securing America 's Future Energy
Jeff Gerlach is a Senior Policy Analyst at Securing America's Future Energy (SAFE), where he supports the research, writing, and content development of SAFE's policy team. Prior to joining SAFE, Jeff worked at a management consulting firm, where he supported the Department of Energy's Office of Petroleum Reserves and Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability. He previously interned and consulted for SAFE in 2013, contributing to the Oil Security Index and the Commission on Energy and Geopolitics' Oil Security 2025. Additionally, he worked on multiple political campaigns in Minnesota and completed a year of service in AmeriCorps.
Mr. Gerlach received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Anthropology from the University of St. Thomas in 2011 and his Master of Public Policy from the University of Chicago in 2014.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Executive Vice President of Government & Public Affairs
Jeffrey Jeb Nadaner is the Executive Vice President of Government & Public Affairs at SAFE and the Executive Director of SAFE's Commanding Heights of Global Transportation.
He has served in key positions in Republican and Democratic administrations, including for several Secretaries of Defense and State, and Attorneys General. As Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Policy, he played a leading role in Congressional passage of the CHIPS Act.
Earlier in his career, he was the Lockheed Martin Vice President of Corporate Engineering & Technology, JINSA Executive Vice President of Government Affairs, Director of the USMC Krulak Center of Innovation, and founder of the successful start-up, Straight Trading.
He earned his Ph.D. at Yale University, J.D. at the University of Pennsylvania, and B.A. at Duke University.
Job Titles:
- Policy Associate, the Coalition for Reimagined Mobility
Job Titles:
- Director of Policy, the Coalition for Reimagined Mobility
Job Titles:
- Manager of Grants and Development Research
A former senior Pentagon official, Peter has advised the Defense Department, U.S. Navy, and private industry on topics ranging from semiconductors - including development of the 2020 CHIPS Act - to management and organization, and strategy toward China. He previously served as an Assistant Secretary of Defense, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Defense Investment, and Special Counsel to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and worked in industry as Vice President, International for QinetiQ North America. Peter holds a J.D. from Georgetown and an Honors B.A. from McGill University.
Job Titles:
- Manager, Transportation Strategy at the Coalition for Reimagined Mobility
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Founder
- President
- Founder, President and CEO of Securing America 's Future Energy
Robbie Diamond is the Founder, President and CEO of Securing America's Future Energy (SAFE). In 2006, he came together with Frederick W. Smith, Chairman, President, and CEO of FedEx Corporation, and General P.X. Kelley, USMC (Ret.), 28th Commandant of the Marine Corps, to form SAFE's Energy Security Leadership Council, a group of prominent business leaders and retired senior military officers dedicated to combating the nation's dangerous dependence on oil. Since then, SAFE and the ESLC have been at the forefront of the energy policy debate, successfully helping to shape legislation in 2007 and shepherd a new, comprehensive energy bill through the Senate Energy Committee in 2009.
Job Titles:
- Policy Associate, the Coalition for Reimagined Mobility
Job Titles:
- Senior Fellow
- Writer and Consultant
Thayer Scott is a writer and consultant focusing on national security-related policy, technology, and energy issues. Previously he worked in communications and government affairs positions for The Boeing Company and Lockheed Martin. From 2004 to 2011 he served in the U.S. Department of Defense, the last four years as Chief Speechwriter for Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. Earlier he was communications director for the International Republican Institute, an independent organization promoting democratic governance overseas. Mr. Scott has a B.A. from Princeton University and a M.S. from University of California-Berkeley. After college he served on active duty in the U.S. Army as a Field Artillery officer.