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James Connaughton
| James Connaughton | |
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| Basic facts | |
| Organization: | Nautilus Data Technologies |
| Role: | President and CEO |
| Location: | Washington, D.C. |
| Education: | •Yale University (B.A., 1983) •Northwestern University School of Law (J.D., 1989)[1][2] |
James Connaughton is the president and CEO of Nautilus Data Technologies, a data center development firm.[3] During the period of transition between the Obama and Trump administrations, Connaughton was reported to be in consideration for a high-level appointment in the Trump administration. The New York Times reported that Connaughton was being considered for secretary of energy.[4]
Career
Early career
James Connaughton was a partner at the law firm Sidley Austin from 1991 to 2001.[1] He was part of the environmental practice group, which focuses on environmental issues, including transportation, conventional and alternative energy generation and distribution, petroleum exploration, development and refining, chemical manufacturing, electronics manufacturing, telecommunication services, consumer products, pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements, agribusiness, and banking and finance.[1][5]
George Bush administration
In 2001, Connaughton was appointed chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality.[2] He advised President George W. Bush as a senior advisor on issues regarding energy, the environment, climate change, and natural resources. He also helped develop policy and implement it. While working under the Bush administration, Connaughton helped create programs that set aside "$90 billion for clean energy technology research and incentives to accelerate commercial deployment of advanced technologies such as plug-in hybrid vehicles, renewable fuels, nuclear, solar and wind."[3]
Energy sector
| Possible Trump appointee (first term) |
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| During the 2016 presidential transition of power, Connaughton was reported to be in consideration for a high-level appointment in Donald Trump's (R) first term. |
Full list of possible appointees |
See also: Donald Trump's Cabinet, 2025 |
After leaving the Bush administration in 2009, Connaughton went to work for Constellation Energy as the company's executive vice president of corporate affairs and public and environmental policy.[1] In 2012, after Constellation Energy merged with Exelon, Connaughton became the executive vice president and senior policy advisor for the company.[1] While at Constellation and Exelon, he was tasked with setting public policy priorities, monitoring federal and state energy market regulation, overseeing public sector business development, developing corporate sustainability, setting technology innovation initiatives, and seeking out venture investments.[3]
Technology sector
Beginning in 2013, Connaughton transitioned into the technology sector. He started with C3 IoT (formerly C3 Energy) where he was the executive vice president.[2][3] C3 IoT develops "data, predictive analytics, and machine learning software solutions," which generates real-time data through sensors and meters used in the energy sector.[6] Connaughton remained with C3 IoT until February 2016.[1]
In 2014, Connaughton became an advisor for the Shine Medical Technologies, a company using technology to produce medical treatments for cancer and heart disease patients.[7]
In 2016, Connaughton joined Nautilus Data Technologies as the firm's president and CEO. Nautilus Data Technologies is a data storage firm that seeks to reduce server cooling water usage by constructing "ocean-worthy" barges that house the servers and uses sea water to cool the servers. According to the firm's website, this process reduces water waste and cuts energy costs by as much as 50 percent.[8][3]
Boards and advisory positions
Connaughton became an advisor for the ClearPath Foundation, the mission of which, according to its website, is "to develop and advance conservative policies that accelerate clean energy innovation."[9]
He was awarded Oceana's Ocean Champion award in 2013 for his oceanic resource conservation and marine sanctuaries.[3] He has served on the governing board for the Argonne National Laboratory as well as a member of the Secretary of Energy’s Advisory Board Task Force on Federal Energy Management, the United States National Commission to the United Nations Education, the Science and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).[3]
Connaughton is a "Founding Member of the United States Conservation Leadership Council." His experience also includes serving as a trustee emeritus of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and "a member of the Climate Change Study Group of the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations."[3]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 LinkedIn, "James Connaughton," accessed November 23, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 ClearPath Foundation, "Jim Connaughton," accessed November 23, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Nautilus Data Technologies, "James Connaughton," accessed November 23, 2016
- ↑ The New York Times, "Donald Trump Is Choosing His Cabinet. Here’s the Latest Shortlist.," November 23, 2016
- ↑ Sidley Austin," Environmental," accessed November 23, 2016
- ↑ C3 IoT, "About," accessed November 23, 2016
- ↑ Shine Medical Technologies, "Home," accessed November 23, 2016
- ↑ Nautilus Data Technologies, "About," accessed November 23, 2016
- ↑ ClearPath Foundation, "Home," accessed May 31, 2019
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