Jack N. Gerard

President of the American Petroleum Institute (since November 2008)

(Getty/AFP)

Why He Matters

As the top lobbyist for 400 companies that supply much of the nation's oil and natural gas, Gerard is a key player on energy and climate strategy. Since taking the helm at the American Petroleum Institute (API) in November 2008, Gerard has focused on making the public case for an industry that is frequently villified and serves as a whipping boy for many on Capitol Hill.

After he was named to his current position, The Washington Post columnist Jeffrey Birnbaum wrote that Gerard was "about to become the most hated man in Washington." But Gerard seems to enjoy being in the hot seat. "Each opportunity poses its own challenge," he said. "My career has been filled with those challenges."

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Background

At a Glance

Career History: President and CEO, American Chemical Council (2005 to 2008); President, National Mining Association (2001 to 2005)
Birthday: December 15, 1957
Hometown: Idaho
Alma Mater: George Washington University, B.A. (political science); George Washington University, J.D.

Spouse: Claudette
Religion: Mormon
Office: 1220 L Street, NWWashington, DC 20005; (202) 682-8000
Web site

Path to Power

Gerard started his life milking cows before school in Terreton, Idaho. The son of a John Deere dealer and a school teacher, Gerard grew up in a town of less than 200.

Gerard said his upbringing had its perks. For one thing, it taught him and his friends how to entertain themselves. "Going out to a fast food place was like the event of the year," Gerard told a reporter at Greenwire.

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The Issues

Since taking the helm of API, Gerard has beefed up the group's grass-roots organization, focused on coalition building - including reaching out to labor organizations - and has brought to Capitol Hill some of the 9.2 million Americans who depend on the oil-and-gas industry for their jobs to speak to members of Congress about how legislation could affect their jobs.

"We were a little cautious in the way we did our politics," Gerard said. "For too long the industry assumed the public understood us and appreciated what we did. What we've learned is that the public probably doesn't understand or appreciate us as much as we'd like them to."

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