David Fleischaker
Encyclopedia
David Fleischaker is an American businessman and lawyer
who served as the Oklahoma Secretary of Energy
under Governor of Oklahoma
Brad Henry
from 2003 to 2008. Fleischaker has served as the President
and CEO of Jolen Operating Company, a privately held independent oil and gas exploration and production company, since 1982.
in 1966 from Brandeis University
and his LLM
in 1971 from the University of Texas. Fleischaker served as a member of the United States Air Force Reserve.
Fleischaker began his career in 1973 as a trial attorney for the Civil Rights Division
of the United States Department of Justice
. He entered private practice
in 1974 in Washington D.C. representing national environmental groups and local governments in environmental litigation and regulatory proceedings. While in Washington, he also become an advisor to the Federal Energy Administration
(which later become the United States Department of Energy
) during 1974. In 1981 he returned to his home state, where he entered his family's oil and gas company by becoming the President and CEO of Jolen Operation Company.
Brad Henry
appointed Fleischaker as his Secretary of Energy
. Fleischaker has focused his office on developing renewable and sustainable energy resources for the state, including establishing the Oklahoma Bioenergy Center to promote the development of a biofuel
s industry in Oklahoma, the development and expansion of wind power and the promotion of demand side management policies at the state energy regulatory agencies. As Secretary, Fleischaker had supervision of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission
, the Oklahoma Energy Resources Board
, the Grand River Dam Authority
and the Oklahoma Department of Mines
, among others.
In December, 2008, Fleischaker resigned as Secretary in order to return to the private sector where he serves as president and chief executive officer of Jolen Operating Company.
Fleischaker has written and lectured extensively on energy policy with articles appearing in USA Today, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and the Daily Oklahoman and has presented opinion pieces on National Public Radio.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
who served as the 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...
Brad Henry
Brad Henry
Charles Bradford "Brad" Henry was the 26th Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected governor in 2002...
from 2003 to 2008. Fleischaker has served as the President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
and CEO of Jolen Operating Company, a privately held independent oil and gas exploration and production company, since 1982.
Early career
Fleischaker received his B.A.Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1966 from Brandeis University
Brandeis University
Brandeis University is an American private research university with a liberal arts focus. It is located in the southwestern corner of Waltham, Massachusetts, nine miles west of Boston. The University has an enrollment of approximately 3,200 undergraduate and 2,100 graduate students. In 2011, it...
and his LLM
Master of Laws
The Master of Laws is an advanced academic degree, pursued by those holding a professional law degree, and is commonly abbreviated LL.M. from its Latin name, Legum Magister. The University of Oxford names its taught masters of laws B.C.L...
in 1971 from the University of Texas. Fleischaker served as a member of the United States Air Force Reserve.
Fleischaker began his career in 1973 as a trial attorney for the Civil Rights Division
United States Department of Justice Civil Rights Division
The U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division is the institution within the federal government responsible for enforcing federal statutes prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, sex, disability, religion, and national origin. The Division was established on December 9, 1957, by...
of the United States Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
. He entered private practice
Practice of law
In its most general sense, the practice of law involves giving legal advice to clients, drafting legal documents for clients, and representing clients in legal negotiations and court proceedings such as lawsuits, and is applied to the professional services of a lawyer or attorney at law, barrister,...
in 1974 in Washington D.C. representing national environmental groups and local governments in environmental litigation and regulatory proceedings. While in Washington, he also become an advisor to the Federal Energy Administration
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...
(which later become 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...
) during 1974. In 1981 he returned to his home state, where he entered his family's oil and gas company by becoming the President and CEO of Jolen Operation Company.
Secretary of Energy
In October 2003, Governor of OklahomaGovernor 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...
Brad Henry
Brad Henry
Charles Bradford "Brad" Henry was the 26th Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected governor in 2002...
appointed Fleischaker 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...
. Fleischaker has focused his office on developing renewable and sustainable energy resources for the state, including establishing the Oklahoma Bioenergy Center to promote the development of a biofuel
Biofuel
Biofuel is a type of fuel whose energy is derived from biological carbon fixation. Biofuels include fuels derived from biomass conversion, as well as solid biomass, liquid fuels and various biogases...
s industry in Oklahoma, the development and expansion of wind power and the promotion of demand side management policies at the state energy regulatory agencies. As Secretary, Fleischaker had supervision of 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 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...
, the Grand River Dam Authority
Grand River Dam Authority
The Grand River Dam Authority is an Oklahoma agency created to control, develop, and maintain the Grand River waterway. It was created by the Oklahoma state legislature in 1935, and is headquartered in Vinita, Oklahoma. It operates three hydroelectric facilities and two reservoirs, Grand Lake...
and 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...
, among others.
In December, 2008, Fleischaker resigned as Secretary in order to return to the private sector where he serves as president and chief executive officer of Jolen Operating Company.
Fleischaker has written and lectured extensively on energy policy with articles appearing in USA Today, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and the Daily Oklahoman and has presented opinion pieces on National Public Radio.