Carl Michael Smith
Encyclopedia
Carl Michael "Mike" Smith (born 1944) is an American
businessman, energy expert, and politician
from Oklahoma
. Smith is currently serving as the Executive Director of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission. Smith has served in numerous energy policy
positions for both the United States federal
and Oklahoma state governments
, including Assistant Secretary of Energy for Fossil Energy
under President
George W. Bush
(2002–2004) and Oklahoma Secretary of Energy
under Governor of Oklahoma
Frank Keating
(1995–2002).
and received his juris doctorate in 1969 from the OU College of Law
, where he focused on oil and gas law. After graduating from OU, Smith began a partner with Lawrence, Smith and Harmon. The later left that firm to become President of Red Rock Exploration, Inc., an Oklahoma City
based oil and gas exploration company with operations in central and western Oklahoma. While with Red Rock, Smith was elected to the Board of Director of the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association in 1981. a position he would hold until 1995. In 1983, Smith became a partner with the Oklahoma law firm of Lawrence and Ellis. Smith was elected President of the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association in 1994.
Smith was appointed to the Oklahoma Energy Resources Board
, a state board that conducts environmental restoration of orphaned and abandoned well sites, encourages the wise and efficient use of energy, and promotes energy education, and was, in 1994, elected that Board's Secretary.
Frank Keating
was elected Governor of Oklahoma
in 1994, Keating asked Smith to join his Administration as his Secretary of Energy
in Governor Keating's Cabinet. As Energy Secretary, Smith was responsible for developing fossil energy policy for the State as well as providing oversight to the State's energy agencies, including the Oklahoma Corporation Commission
, the Oklahoma Department of Mines
, and the Oklahoma Energy Resources Board
. Additionally, Secretary Smith served as Governor Keating’s official representative to the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, the Southern States Energy Board, the Interstate Mining Compact Commission and the Governors’ Ethanol Coalition.
Smith remained as Keating's Energy Secretary until 2002 when he resigned to join the George W. Bush Administration
. Keating appointed Robert J. Sullivan, Jr.
, a Tulsa businessman, to succeed Smith as Secretary.
appointed Smith to serve as his Assistant Secretary of Energy for Fossil Energy
within the United States Department of Energy
. As Assistant Secretary, Smith served as the primary policy advisor to United States Secretary of Energy
Spencer Abraham
on federal coal, petroleum, and natural gas programs. Smith oversaw nearly 1,000 scientists, engineers, technicians and administrative staff in two national laboratories, four field offices and at DOE’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.
He was responsible for several high-priority presidential initiatives, including the implementation of the Bush Administration’s $2 billion development of a new generation of environmentally sound clean coal technologies and the $1 billion FutureGen project. His duties also included managing the nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve
and the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve.
of 30 US States that works to promote the conservation and efficient recovery of the nation’s domestic oil and natural gas resources, appointed Smith as their Executive Director in March, 2008.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman, energy expert, and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
. Smith is currently serving as the Executive Director of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission. Smith has served in numerous energy policy
Energy policy of the United States
The energy policy of the United States is determined by federal, state and local public entities in the United States, which address issues of energy production, distribution, and consumption, such as building codes and gas mileage standards...
positions for both the United States federal
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
and Oklahoma state governments
Government of Oklahoma
The government of the US State of Oklahoma, established by the Oklahoma Constitution, is a republican democracy modeled after the Federal government of the United States. The state government has three branches: the executive, legislative, and judicial...
, including Assistant Secretary of Energy for Fossil Energy
Assistant Secretary of Energy for Fossil Energy
The Assistant Secretary of Energy for Fossil Energy is the head of the Office of Fossil Energy within the United States Department of Energy. The Office of Fossil Energy is responsible for several initiatives, including implementation of a $2 billion, 10-year initiative to develop a new generation...
under President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
(2002–2004) and Oklahoma Secretary of Energy
Oklahoma State Cabinet
The Cabinet of the Governor of Oklahoma is a body of the most senior appointed officials of the executive branch of the government of Oklahoma. Originally an informal meeting between the Governor of Oklahoma and various government officials, the Governor's Cabinet has evolved into a major part of...
under Governor of Oklahoma
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...
Frank Keating
Frank Keating
Francis Anthony "Frank" Keating is an American politician from Oklahoma. Keating served as the 25th Governor of Oklahoma. His first term began in 1995 and ended in 1999...
(1995–2002).
Education and early career
Smith earned his bachelor's degree in 1966 from the University of OklahomaUniversity of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
and received his juris doctorate in 1969 from the OU College of Law
University of Oklahoma College of Law
The University of Oklahoma College of Law is an ABA-certified law school located on the University of Oklahoma campus in Norman, Oklahoma. Currently, the College of Law has an enrollment of 527 law students....
, where he focused on oil and gas law. After graduating from OU, Smith began a partner with Lawrence, Smith and Harmon. The later left that firm to become President of Red Rock Exploration, Inc., an Oklahoma City
Oklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
based oil and gas exploration company with operations in central and western Oklahoma. While with Red Rock, Smith was elected to the Board of Director of the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association in 1981. a position he would hold until 1995. In 1983, Smith became a partner with the Oklahoma law firm of Lawrence and Ellis. Smith was elected President of the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association in 1994.
Smith was appointed to the Oklahoma Energy Resources Board
Oklahoma Energy Resources Board
The Oklahoma Energy Resources Board is an agency of the state of Oklahoma. Funded voluntarily by Oklahoma's oil and natural gas producers and royalty owners, OERB conducts environmental restoration of orphaned and abandoned well sites, encourages the wise and efficient use of energy, and promotes...
, a state board that conducts environmental restoration of orphaned and abandoned well sites, encourages the wise and efficient use of energy, and promotes energy education, and was, in 1994, elected that Board's Secretary.
Keating Administration
When RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Frank Keating
Frank Keating
Francis Anthony "Frank" Keating is an American politician from Oklahoma. Keating served as the 25th Governor of Oklahoma. His first term began in 1995 and ended in 1999...
was elected Governor of Oklahoma
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...
in 1994, Keating asked Smith to join his Administration as his Secretary of Energy
Oklahoma State Cabinet
The Cabinet of the Governor of Oklahoma is a body of the most senior appointed officials of the executive branch of the government of Oklahoma. Originally an informal meeting between the Governor of Oklahoma and various government officials, the Governor's Cabinet has evolved into a major part of...
in Governor Keating's Cabinet. As Energy Secretary, Smith was responsible for developing fossil energy policy for the State as well as providing oversight to the State's energy agencies, including the Oklahoma Corporation Commission
Oklahoma Corporation Commission
The Oklahoma Corporation Commission is the public utilities commission of the state of Oklahoma run by three state-wide elected Commissioners, assisted by over 400 employees...
, the Oklahoma Department of Mines
Oklahoma Department of Mines
The Oklahoma Department of Mines is a department of the government of Oklahoma responsible for overseeing and regulating all surface and sub-surface mining activities in the State. The Department is also responsible for the reclamation of land disturbed by mining operations...
, and the Oklahoma Energy Resources Board
Oklahoma Energy Resources Board
The Oklahoma Energy Resources Board is an agency of the state of Oklahoma. Funded voluntarily by Oklahoma's oil and natural gas producers and royalty owners, OERB conducts environmental restoration of orphaned and abandoned well sites, encourages the wise and efficient use of energy, and promotes...
. Additionally, Secretary Smith served as Governor Keating’s official representative to the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, the Southern States Energy Board, the Interstate Mining Compact Commission and the Governors’ Ethanol Coalition.
Smith remained as Keating's Energy Secretary until 2002 when he resigned to join the George W. Bush Administration
George W. Bush administration
The presidency of George W. Bush began on January 20, 2001, when he was inaugurated as the 43rd President of the United States of America. The oldest son of former president George H. W. Bush, George W...
. Keating appointed Robert J. Sullivan, Jr.
Robert J. Sullivan, Jr.
Robert J. "Bob" Sullivan, Jr. is an American politician from Oklahoma and a Republican candidate in the 2006 Oklahoma gubernatorial election. Sullivan had previously served as the Oklahoma Secretary of Energy under Governor of Oklahoma Frank Keating from 2002 to 2003.Sullivan lost in the July 25,...
, a Tulsa businessman, to succeed Smith as Secretary.
Bush Administration
In 2002, President George W. BushGeorge W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
appointed Smith to serve as his Assistant Secretary of Energy for Fossil Energy
Assistant Secretary of Energy for Fossil Energy
The Assistant Secretary of Energy for Fossil Energy is the head of the Office of Fossil Energy within the United States Department of Energy. The Office of Fossil Energy is responsible for several initiatives, including implementation of a $2 billion, 10-year initiative to develop a new generation...
within the United States Department of Energy
United States Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
. As Assistant Secretary, Smith served as the primary policy advisor to United States Secretary of Energy
United States Secretary of Energy
The United States Secretary of Energy is the head of the United States Department of Energy, a member of the President's Cabinet, and fifteenth in the presidential line of succession. The position was formed on October 1, 1977 with the creation of the Department of Energy when President Jimmy...
Spencer Abraham
Spencer Abraham
Edmund Spencer Abraham is a former United States Senator from Michigan. He served as the tenth United States Secretary of Energy, serving under President George W. Bush. Abraham is one of the founders of the Federalist Society....
on federal coal, petroleum, and natural gas programs. Smith oversaw nearly 1,000 scientists, engineers, technicians and administrative staff in two national laboratories, four field offices and at DOE’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.
He was responsible for several high-priority presidential initiatives, including the implementation of the Bush Administration’s $2 billion development of a new generation of environmentally sound clean coal technologies and the $1 billion FutureGen project. His duties also included managing the nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve
Strategic Petroleum Reserve
The Strategic Petroleum Reserve is an emergency fuel storage of oil maintained by the United States Department of Energy.- United States :The US SPR is the largest emergency supply in the world with the current capacity to hold up to ....
and the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve.
Return to private sector
Smith resigned as assistant secretary in 2004 to return to Oklahoma. He joined Dunlap Codding & Rogers, one of Oklahoma's oldest and largest dedicated intellectual property law firms.IOACC
The Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, an interstate compactInterstate compact
An interstate compact is an agreement between two or more states of the United States of America. Article I, Section 10 of the United States Constitution provides that "no state shall enter into an agreement or compact with another state" without the consent of Congress...
of 30 US States that works to promote the conservation and efficient recovery of the nation’s domestic oil and natural gas resources, appointed Smith as their Executive Director in March, 2008.