Staff

CEO

Robert L. Bradley Jr. is the CEO and founder of the Institute for Energy Research. As one of the nation’s leading experts on the history and regulation of energy markets, he has testified before the U.S. Congress and the California Energy Commission, as well as lectured at numerous colleges, universities, and think tanks around the country. Bradley’s views are frequently cited in the media, and his reviews and editorials have been published in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and other national publications.

Bradley is a visiting fellow at the Institute of Economic Affairs in London, an honorary research fellow at the Center for Energy Economics at the University of Texas at Austin, and an adjunct scholar at both the Cato Institute and the Competitive Enterprise Institute. He is a member of the academic review committee at the Institute for Humane Studies at George Mason University.

As the author of six books, most recently Capitalism at Work: Business, Government, and Energy, Bradley has applied the classical liberal worldview to recent corporate controversies and energy policy debates. His energy primer (coauthored with Richard Fulmer) is Energy: The Master Resource.

Bradley received a B.A. in economics (with honors) from Rollins College, where he also won the S. Truman Olin Award in economics. He received an M.A. in economics from the University of Houston: and a Ph.D. in political economy (with distinction) from International College. He has been a Schultz Fellow for Economic Research and Liberty Fund Fellow for Economic Research, and in 2002 he received the Julian L. Simon Memorial Award for his work on energy and sustainable development.

He is currently a member of the International Association for Energy Economics, the American Economic Association, Southern Economic Association, and the American Historical Association.

President

Thomas J. Pyle is the president of the Institute for Energy Research (IER). In this capacity, Pyle brings a unique backdrop of public and private sector experience to help manage IER’s Washington, DC-based staff and operations. He also helps to develop the organization’s free market policy positions and implement education efforts with respect to key energy stakeholders, including policymakers, federal agency representatives, industry leaders, consumer entities and the media.

Previously, Pyle was the founder of his own consulting firm, Pyle Consulting, Inc., an active public affairs consulting firm with a wide range of private and not-for-profit customers. Prior to starting his own firm, Pyle served as vice president of the Rhoads Group in Washington, DC where he represented and advised a variety of association and corporate clients in meeting their strategic public policy goals and priorities. Additionally, he also served as director of federal affairs for a major integrated manufacturing and services company focusing on energy, environment, regulatory and transportation issues.

Before coming to the private sector, Pyle held numerous positions on Capitol Hill including serving a policy analyst for the Majority Whip of the U.S. House of Representatives and as staff director for the Congressional Western Caucus, as well as other legislative staff positions.

Pyle holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Southern California.

Senior Vice President, Policy
dkish@ierdc.org

Dan Kish is a senior vice president for policy at the Institute for Energy Research (IER).

Kish has more than 25 years of experience on congressional committees focused principally upon of natural resource and energy policies. His service includes the principal resource committees in the House and Senate, including six years as chief of staff for the Republicans on the House Resources Committee and four years on the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee staff.

His primary focus has been access to resources on government lands and in the waters of the Outer Continental Shelf, and specifically, upon the enormous conventional and unconventional energy there that waits to be allowed to add value to our nation’s well-being.

Kish is a graduate of Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Indiana.

Senior Vice President, Operations and Development
lwallace@ierdc.org

Lisa Wallace is senior vice president for development and operations at the Institute for Energy Research (IER).

Previously, Wallace spent twelve years working on Capitol Hill for Congressman George Radanovich and the House Committee on Resources. Initially, she worked as administrative assistant to Congressman Radanovich, where she served as senior advisor to the congressman on all matters of policy, personnel, political strategy and district operations and managed multi-million dollar budget, legislative, communications and support staff.

As Chief Financial Officer for the House Committee on Resources, Ms. Wallace managed and administered a $15 million bi-annual committee budget, oversaw all business operations of the full committee, its five subcommittees, and the Office of the Chief Clerk, and managed a 50-member professional staff.

Wallace is a graduate of California State University at Fullerton.

Director, State and Regulatory Affairs
dsimmons@ierdc.org

Daniel Simmons is IER’s Director of State Affairs. He oversees our energy research and outreach at the state level. Before joining IER, Simmons served as the Director of the Natural Resources Task Force at the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).  ALEC’s Natural Resources Task Force promotes policy innovations through markets, property rights, and the rule of law in energy, environment, natural resources, and agricultural policy areas.

Prior to working for ALEC, Simmons was a Research Fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. He analyzed proposed federal regulations and wrote comments to federal agencies during the rulemaking process. He also drafted law review articles based on a current regulatory and legal issues.

Previous to working at the Mercatus Center, Simmons served as Legislative Staff for the Committee on Resources in the U.S. House of Representatives where he handled endangered species and forestry issues.

Simmons holds a B.A. in Economics from Utah State University and a J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He is a member of the Virginia State Bar.

Director, Communications

As IER’s Director of Communications, John helps to best disseminate IER’s message to lawmakers, the media, and the American public. He assists in keeping partners updated on IER’s progress and spreading the organization’s message to new audiences.

John holds a BA in Political Science and Economics from Christendom College in Front Royal, VA.

Director, Donor Relations

Dustin DeBerry is Director of Donor Relations at the Institute for Energy Research. In this role he helps oversee communications and outreach to IER’s growing base of donors. He also assists in managing the day-to-day activities of IER.

DeBerry is a graduate from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and holds a B.A. in Public and International Affairs as well as a B.S. in Business Administration, concentration accounting.

Director, New Media

Jeffrey Hubbard is Director of New Media at the Institute for Energy Research. He is a graduate of the University of Chicago with a Master of Arts in political philosophy. Prior to enrolling in graduate school, Jeffrey worked for Young Americans for Liberty as the Social Networking Director, while also interning at the Heritage Foundation Roe Institute for Economics. In 2008, Jeffrey graduated from the University of Southern California.

Director, Business Administration

Rhonda Hegazi is IER’s Director of Business Administration.  She works closely with IER’s President and is responsible for providing him with administrative support.  Hegazi is also responsible for reviewing and negotiating agreements with IER’s service providers and handles the coordination of due diligence in relation to service contracts and other administrative matters.

Prior to joining IER, Hegazi was a public interest lawyer in Washington D.C. where she represented clients sentenced under the D.C. Code before Department of Justice administrative law judges.  She also previously served as the Board of Directors’ Chairperson for a Virginia-based human rights organization.  Prior to this role, Hegazi spent five years working abroad between Hong Kong and Dubai, where she was the founder of her own consulting and executive search firm.

A Maryland native, Hegazi holds a B.A. in Government and Politics with a minor in Business Administration from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a J.D. (with honors) from the University of Maryland School of Law.  She is a member of the Washington D.C. and Maryland bars.