Spencer AbrahamSpeaker and Booking Agent Information

As part of this strategy, he oversaw attempts to extend America's worldwide energy ties, including collaboration with China, Japan, Russia, the European Union, countries in South America and Africa, and some OPEC members.

Secretary Abraham has been a diligent watcher of global energy markets, and the Department of Energy under his direction performed a variety of short and long-term studies of global oil, gas, power, and other markets.

Domestically, he led the department's high-tech initiatives in hydrogen fuel cell research, as well as the creation and extension of clean coal technology projects, and he was a staunch advocate for the reintroduction of safe nuclear power. Under Secretary Abraham's leadership, the Department of Energy improved from "worst to first" among well-run agencies, according to the Presidential Management Agenda assessment.

When Abraham announced his departure at the end of President Obama's first term, The Washington Times lauded him, noting that he was "a true gentleman." "He inherited a huge and cumbersome organization in post-Cold War drift, but he leaves something far better to his successor. Mr.

Abraham managed his organization with distinction and integrity." Faced almost immediately with the post-9/11 world's energy and safety difficulties, Secretary Abraham distinguished himself by renewing and concentrating the Department of Energy on the new homeland security challenges our country faced.

Abraham was responsible for the security of America's nuclear armaments while also playing an important international role by drastically extending the Department's focus on nuclear nonproliferation programs and negotiating with Russia and other former Soviet republics.

He devised new security plans, which the Washington Post described as "huge gifts from Abraham to the nation." Prior to being appointed Secretary of Energy, Abraham was an effective and very prolific U.S.

Senator from Michigan for six years, during which time he was the author of 22 pieces of legislation passed into law, an extraordinary feat for a freshman senator. He also served as the chairman of two subcommittees: Manufacturing and Competitiveness, and Immigration.

Always on the cutting edge, he became a major advocate for technical concerns and was one of the first legislators to grasp the value of cultivating relationships with Silicon Valley's technological innovators and corporate executives.

He was the primary author of three pieces of groundbreaking technological legislation: the Electronic Signature in Global and National Commerce Act, the Government Paperwork and Elimination Act, and the Anti-Cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act. All three were watershed moments in internet governance and the use of critical new technologies.

Abraham, a staunch advocate of business, constantly backed measures that increased America's competitiveness and worldwide leadership. Abraham is also the Non-Executive Chairman of AREVA, Inc. and a member of the Occidental Petroleum Board of Directors.

He is also a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution, a regular contributor of op-ed pieces to the Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Weekly Standard, and other publications, and a frequent guest commentator on Fox News, Fox Business, CNN, CNBC, and Bloomberg. Spencer Abraham and Jane Abraham are the parents of three children.

He graduated from Harvard Law School, where he co-founded the Federalist Society, and is from East Lansing, Michigan.