# Chris Wright

> Chris Wright is the 17th U.S. secretary of energy and the founder and former chairman and CEO of Liberty Energy. An MIT-trained mechanical engineer, he previously founded fracture-mapping company Pinnacle Technologies and chaired shale producer Stroud Energy. His career connects oilfield technology, geothermal investment, advanced nuclear power and a contested policy agenda centered on expanding affordable and reliable energy supply.

- **Role:** Secretary of Energy at U.S. Department of Energy
- **Organizations:** U.S. Department of Energy, Liberty Energy (founder; former chairman and CEO), Pinnacle Technologies (founder; former CEO), Stroud Energy (former chairman), Liberty Resources (co-founder; former CEO), Oklo (former board member)
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** BS in Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Graduate work in Electrical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Graduate work in Electrical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- **Known for:** Built Pinnacle Technologies around commercial fracture-mapping technology., Named co-inventor on U.S. patent 7,028,772 for a treatment well tiltmeter system., Founded Liberty’s oilfield-services business and led it through its 2018 IPO.

## Career timeline

- **1985** — Completed his MIT undergraduate studies; encountered hydraulic fracturing through work with a small Bay Area company while attending graduate school.
- **1992** — Founded Pinnacle Technologies; led it as CEO until 2006.
- **2000-2006** — Served as chairman of Stroud Energy, which was sold to Range Resources in 2006.
- **2010** — Co-founded Liberty Resources, an oil and gas producer.
- **2011** — Founded Liberty’s oilfield-services business, later named Liberty Energy.
- **2018** — Liberty completed its initial public offering in January.
- **2020** — Liberty completed its OneStim acquisition on December 31; Schlumberger received 37% of the combined company.
- **2022** — Liberty announced a $10 million investment in Fervo Energy.
- **2024** — Named to Oklo’s public-company board; nominated for U.S. energy secretary on November 16.
- **2025** — Confirmed as energy secretary on February 3; resigned Liberty leadership and stepped down from Oklo’s board.
- **2026** — Delivered the U.S. national statement at the IAEA General Conference in Vienna on September 14.

## Achievements

- Built Pinnacle Technologies around commercial fracture-mapping technology.
- Named co-inventor on U.S. patent 7,028,772 for a treatment well tiltmeter system.
- Founded Liberty’s oilfield-services business and led it through its 2018 IPO.
- Led Liberty during its acquisition of OneStim at the end of 2020.
- Confirmed as the 17th U.S. secretary of energy by a 59-38 Senate vote.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — A DOE rehearing order issued October 16 bears Wright’s signature as secretary of energy.
- **2026-09** — Delivered the U.S. national statement at the IAEA General Conference in Vienna, promoting nuclear development and addressing safeguards.
- **2025-02** — Confirmed as energy secretary; Liberty appointed Ron Gusek CEO and William Kimble non-executive chairman, and Oklo announced Wright’s board departure.

## Links

- Website: https://www.energy.gov/person/chris-wright
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-wright-b8370a17b
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/SecretaryWright
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chriswright4192
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/secretarywright/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Secretary-Chris-Wright/61572678016794/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/chris-wright
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-23