Chris McLindon is Director of Energy Education and Outreach at the Louisiana State University Center for Energy Studies.  He oversees the development and implementation of educational programs aimed at preparing the next generation of energy leaders.  He also engages with key stakeholders, including policymakers, industry professionals and the general public to promote awareness and understanding of key energy issues. Chris worked for four decades as a geologist in the upstream oil and gas industry, and more recently as a geologist in the carbon capture and storage industry.  The latter experience included the exploration and development of new sites for CO₂ sequestration in Louisiana and Texas, the development of geological models for CO₂ injection simulation, and geological site characterization for Class VI permit applications for CCS projects in Louisiana and Texas. He holds a B.S. in Geology from LSU.  He is a member and past president of the New Orleans Geological Society, and is a member of the Geological Society of America and the Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists. Chris was the recipient of the 2017 Statesmanship Award from the Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies for his work in collaborating with university researchers using oil and gas industry data to geological faults in south Louisiana.

Andrew Owens is a CES Research Fellow and retired from Entergy in 2023 as Director of Regulatory Research & Strategy after more than 25 years with the company. His career focused on regulatory and policy issues, including ratemaking and emerging technologies such as smart grid, energy efficiency, distributed energy resources, renewables, electric vehicles, and energy storage. He previously worked in environmental consulting on air pollution policy, modeling, and permitting. Andrew holds a B.S. in chemical engineering from Iowa State University and an M.S. in management from Georgia Tech, and is a registered professional engineer in Georgia and a licensed CPA in Louisiana.

Garret Graves served as the U.S. Representative for Louisiana’s 6th Congressional District from 2015 to 2025 and is a member of the Republican Party. He has extensive experience in public policy and energy issues, with a focus on infrastructure, coastal restoration, and energy development in Louisiana. Born in Baton Rouge, he attended the University of Alabama, Louisiana Tech, and American University.