The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the appointment of Rick Stockburger as the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation for Energy Security and Innovation (FESI), the Department’s first-ever independent agency-related foundation.
July 28, 2025
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WASHINGTON— The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the appointment of Rick Stockburger as the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation for Energy Security and Innovation (FESI), the Department’s first-ever independent agency-related foundation. Established to support DOE’s mission, FESI will help accelerate energy technology commercialization, expand private-public collaboration, and strengthen America’s energy system.
Stockburger, a decorated U.S. Army combat veteran and nationally recognized leader in energy innovation, brings a strong record of success in accelerating energy technology startups and advancing public-private partnerships. He served in Kosovo and Afghanistan before transitioning to the energy sector, where he has helped scale cutting-edge technologies from concept to market. Prior to joining FESI, Stockburger served as President and CEO of BRITE Energy Innovators in Warren, Ohio, where he expanded the organization’s budget and programming and helped generate over $250 million in economic impact across the Midwest.
“Today’s announcement marks a new chapter in how the Department will deliver breakthrough technologies to market,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. “Rick’s proven leadership and background will help advance the Department’s efforts to move emerging technologies into real world energy deployment—strengthening American science, innovation, and energy leadership. With him in place, FESI will be a valuable partner in expanding private-sector collaboration and delivering on President Trump’s agenda to unleash American energy and innovation.”
“Rick’s decorated service to our country while in the U.S. Army, combined with his leadership in technology entrepreneurship in the private sector, makes him an outstanding choice to be FESI’s first CEO,” said Anthony Pugliese, DOE Chief Commercialization Officer and Director of the Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC). “Together, we will strengthen America’s ability to move breakthrough research into real-world impact.”
FESI has already demonstrated its value to the Department through two initial investments in DOE programs focused on strengthening America's energy infrastructure and advancing the commercialization of next-generation energy technologies. These early investments showcase how FESI can boost America’s competitiveness and channel private sector investments into critical partnerships between the Department, its National Labs, industry, and the philanthropic community.
FESI is an independent agency-related foundation created to support DOE’s mission. Learn more about FESI at www.fesi.org.
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