Founder and CEO Robbie Diamond to be Executive Chairman;
Avery Ash Named CEO
Washington, D.C. — SAFE (Securing America’s Future Energy) today announced a significant milestone in its 21st year: Founder Robbie Diamond will assume the role of Executive Chairman, and Avery Ash, SAFE’s Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Special Initiatives, will become the organization’s next Chief Executive Officer.
The transition comes as SAFE builds on two decades of impact and accelerates its work to strengthen America’s energy and national security in an increasingly complex strategic landscape.
“For more than 20 years, SAFE has pushed the nation to confront the economic and security risks created by our energy dependencies—and we’ve expanded that mission to meet new challenges in minerals, transportation technology, AI, grid infrastructure, and the industrial inputs that underpin U.S. competitiveness,” said Robbie Diamond, Founder and Executive Chairman. “When I founded SAFE, the U.S. was in two wars, oil imports were rising, domestic production was falling, and there were no alternatives like electric vehicles. As SAFE enters this next phase, there is no one better suited to move the organization forward than Avery Ash. He has my trust, the trust of our board, our senior leadership, and our team, bringing both policy depth and strategic vision at the right time for both the organization and the nation.”
Diamond to Focus on Board Leadership, ESLC Engagement, and Strategic Vision
In his new role, Diamond will remain deeply engaged with SAFE’s mission. As Executive Chairman, he will serve as the primary liaison to the Board of Directors and the Energy Security Leadership Council (ESLC), and will continue shaping SAFE’s long-term vision.
Diamond founded SAFE in 2004 with a focus on reducing the national security and economic threats from oil dependence through both supply- and demand-side solutions. Under his leadership, the organization has grown to encompass critical minerals, autonomous vehicles, EV and battery manufacturing, power grid resilience, supply-chain security, and global trade issues. This evolution has been accompanied by an expanded stakeholder base, non-partisan engagement across the federal government, growing involvement from military leaders through the ESLC, and the establishment of the annual SAFE Summit.
Ash Brings Policy, Private Sector, and Organizational Leadership Experience
Avery Ash joined SAFE in March 2023 after experience on Capitol Hill and senior roles at leading policy and industry institutions, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the American Automobile Association, and mobility data and analytics company INRIX. In his 3 years with SAFE, he has taken on an array of leadership responsibilities across the organization. Ash has led the government affairs portfolio while spearheading high-impact special initiatives, such as launching the European Initiative for Energy Security (EIES), and served as Executive Director of the Coalition for Reimagined Mobility (ReMo)—roles that provide him with deep insight into SAFE’s full operational scope and mission execution.
“Avery combines policy expertise, entrepreneurial drive, and a clear understanding of where America must go to remain secure and competitive,” said Admiral Dennis Blair (Ret.), former Director of National Intelligence and Chair of SAFE’s Board of Directors. “His leadership has been apparent through SAFE’s strengthened impact on Capitol Hill, across Administrations, and with private-sector partners. The Board unanimously supports this transition and is confident that Avery will guide SAFE’s next era of growth.”
A Partnership Built on Years of Collaboration
Diamond and Ash’s collaboration is rooted in more than a decade of professional partnership and personal friendship. Long before Ash joined SAFE, the two explored opportunities to work together as SAFE’s mission expanded.
“It is an honor to lead an organization that I have admired for years—and to follow Robbie, whose vision created SAFE,” said Avery Ash, incoming CEO. “With two decades of impact in Washington, SAFE is uniquely positioned to help confront the defining energy and technology challenges of this century. I am excited to continue to work with Robbie as well as our exceptional board, staff, and partners to operationalize this ambitious vision.”
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About SAFE
SAFE is an action-oriented, nonpartisan organization committed to transportation, energy, and supply chain policies that advance the economic and national security of the United States, its partners, and allies. Since 2004, SAFE has worked with its Energy Security Leadership Council—a peerless coalition of current and former Fortune 500 CEOs and retired 4-star admirals and generals—to support secure, resilient, and responsible energy solutions. Learn more at SecureEnergy.org.
