The following statement may be attributed to Nuclear Innovation Alliance (NIA) Executive Director Judi Greenwald and NIA Board Chair Todd Allen:
“We are thrilled to welcome Chris Smith to the Nuclear Innovation Alliance Board. Smith brings an unparalleled wealth of experience in the public and private sector to NIA. Advanced nuclear energy is poised to play an increasingly important role as a climate and energy solution. Chris’ addition to our Board will broaden and deepen the mix of experience and insight NIA brings to current urgent and important conversations on incorporating advanced nuclear energy into the energy system.”
About Chris Smith:
Christopher Smith was named Ford Motor Company's chief government affairs officer in March 2022. He leads a global team that is constantly enhancing the company’s expertise and influence in legislation and policy. Rapidly evolving policy priorities include areas such as connectivity, electric vehicles and digital services, and are intended to benefit customers, society and the environment, among other stakeholders.
For four-plus years prior to Ford, Smith was senior vice president for policy, government and public affairs – a function he created – at Cheniere Energy, the world’s second-largest liquefied natural gas operator. In that role, Smith led the incorporation of climate principles into Cheniere’s business model and helped modernize related federal regulations.
From 2009 to 2017, Smith served in the U.S. Department of Energy during the Obama Administration, finally as assistant secretary for fossil energy. Earlier in his career, Smith held managerial and analytical positions at Chevron and analytical roles at Citibank and JPMorgan in New York City and London.
Smith earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering management and mechanical engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, beginning his career as an officer in the U.S. Army. He has a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Cambridge in England and a degree in applied mathematics from American Public University.
About NIA:
The Nuclear Innovation Alliance is a non-profit think-and-do-tank working to enable nuclear power as a global solution to mitigate climate change. Through policy analysis, research, and education, we are catalyzing the next era of nuclear energy. Our organization is funded primarily through charitable grants and philanthropic donations from climate-concerned individuals and organizations.