Encyclopedia · Biography
Chris Wright
Energy executive and U.S. secretary of Energy
Personal details
- Full name
- Christopher Allen Wright
- Education
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology; graduate studies at University of California, Berkeley and MIT
- Spouse
- Liz Wright
- Prior firms
- Pinnacle Technologies; Stroud Energy; Liberty Energy
- Office
- U.S. secretary of Energy (since February 2025)
Chris Wright is an American energy entrepreneur and government official who became secretary of Energy in February 2025 following a career in oil-and-gas technology and shale development.
Education, engineering and companies
Wright studied mechanical engineering at MIT and did electrical-engineering graduate work at MIT and UC Berkeley. He founded Pinnacle Technologies in 1992 and served as its CEO through 2006. He later chaired Stroud Energy and led Liberty Energy as chairman and CEO. His work also included geothermal, nuclear and other energy technologies.
Energy Department appointment
Trump nominated Wright in November 2024; the Senate confirmed him February 3, 2025. The energy secretary leads a department with a broad remit across scientific research, nuclear-security programs, energy infrastructure and policy.
Council with Doug Burgum
Executive Order 14213, signed February 14, 2025, named Wright vice chair of the National Energy Dominance Council and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum chair. The same order establishes official connections with the heads of several other federal departments, Treasury, Commerce and EPA among them. These are defined governmental roles, not proof of personal investment partnerships.
References
Research compiled November 13, 2026. Open questions belong in a separate research note, not in the public text.
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Documented connections
These are specifically described relationships in public records. A shared institution, appointment or event does not by itself demonstrate coordination or wrongdoing.
- Doug Burgum (person) — chair and vice chair: Executive Order 14213 named Burgum chair and Wright vice chair of the National Energy Dominance Council · February 14, 2025 onward
- Howard Lutnick (person) — same official council: Energy and Commerce are both assigned named cabinet roles in the energy council order · 2025 onward
- Jamieson Greer (person) — same official council: Energy secretary vice chairs interagency council that includes the USTR · 2025 onward
- Lee Zeldin (person) — same official council: Energy secretary vice chairs an interagency council with EPA administrator as a named member · 2025 onward
- National Energy Dominance Council (organization) — Council vice chair via Energy Secretary position · from February 2025