Washington, DC—SAFE applauds the Senate’s recent confirmation of several highly qualified leaders who will play critical roles necessary in shaping the future of American energy and mineral dominance, with important implications for our national security and prosperity.
Jacob Helberg was confirmed as the Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment at the U.S. Department of State. His office leads diplomatic efforts on mineral security, including the unique SAFE-State Department MINVEST partnership. Through this relationship, SAFE convened 14 nations and the European Union last year who committed to engaging their development finance institutions and export credit agencies for investments in high-standard global critical minerals projects that will increase diversification and contribute to supply chain security for the United States.
With the U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) playing key financing roles for such projects, SAFE welcomes Benjamin Black as Chief Executive Officer of the DFC and John Jovanovic as President of EXIM, who was confirmed last week. We look forward to continued collaboration with the State Department, DFC, and EXIM to further the underlying goal of the Minerals Security Partnership to decrease the U.S. and allies’ collective reliance on Chinese-controlled minerals.
SAFE congratulates Dr. Ned Mamula on his appointment as Director of the U.S. Geological Survey, who brings decades of experience in both the private sector and federal service, including leadership roles in critical minerals policy and resource development. His stewardship of several important projects, including the U.S. Critical Minerals List, will be essential to understanding our supply security challenges in an era where mineral resources underpin advanced energy, defense technologies, and industrial competitiveness.
SAFE also congratulates the confirmation of the following leaders: Laura Swett and David LaCerte for Commissioners of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; Catherine Jereza for Assistant Secretary for Electricity at the U.S. Department of Energy; and Audrey Robertson for Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy. These appointments come at a critical moment for advancing grid modernization, enhancing energy resilience, accelerating the deployment of critical energy infrastructure, and the buildout of the transmission backbone—objectives that are central to SAFE’s mission of strengthening U.S. energy and economic security.
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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. SAFE has convened business and former military leaders since 2004 to support secure, resilient, and responsible energy solutions. Learn more at secureenergy.org.
