Curt Coccodrilli is the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for the Office of Fossil Energy (FE) and Acting DAS of Coal and Carbon Management with the U.S. Department of Energy. In this role, Curt helps set the strategic direction for the FE Office and leads a team that administers many programs encompassing technology research, development, and demonstration, analysis, domestic and international engagement, and intergovernmental collaboration.
Curt grew up in Clarks Green PA, and on his family farm and shooting range near Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania. After graduating from Keystone College and Colorado College, he spent the next 20 years co-owning a small business before venturing into real estate, land management and oilfield services. For his work related to farm & landowner issues Coccodrilli received a Certificate of Congressional Recognition on mineral rights and advocacy related to the Marcellus Shale boom.
In 2017 he was appointed by President Donald Trump to serve as the Pennsylvania State Director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development program. During his tenure as director, Curt was instrumental in creating partnerships with many other federal agencies and Pennsylvania stakeholders regarding essential programs like broadband connectivity, energy development, community facilities, loan guarantees and residential & multi-family mortgages.
As a member of the USDA Opioid Task Force, Curt hosted the first national opioid roundtable in Pennsylvania. Coccodrilli also chaired the USDA National Taskforce on Energy. Through his leadership, more effective collaboration and partnerships was created across select Federal Agencies, including the establishment of a Secretarial-level Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between USDA and the Department of Energy (DOE). Curt also served as the federal liaison to the Tri-State Governor’s Shale Council and was appointed to the Governor’s Council on Rural Affairs.
His passion for rural electrification helped him earn the 2018 Undersecretary’s award for Infrastructure, Partnerships, and Innovation. He served for a time as Congressman Dan Meuser’s District Director for the Pennsylvania 9th congressional district. Curt most recently was appointed as a Senior Advisor in the U.S. DOE at the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations before becoming DAS for Coal & Carbon & Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Fossil Energy Office.