The Geo-Politics of Energy Security: China, India, & Indonesia

February 8, 2019
DRMI Auditorium
1300—1430

Dr. Fred Beach

Associate Director for Energy & Technology Policy at the Energy Institute, University of Texas

Abstract

Since the beginning of the “Industrial Age” access to energy resources have become ever more critical to the social and economic viability of nation states.  Just as access to food, clean water, and shelter are essential to human survival, access to fuels for producing power are essential to a nation’s viability and a government’s ability to ensure that access is fundamental to its legitimacy.  Most population centers and nations formed well before the industrial age and many are not geographically correlated with energy resources.  Obtaining and maintaining access to sufficient and affordable energy has become one of, if not the principle drivers, in geo-politics as countries struggle to ensure “Energy Security”.

This talk explores the history of nation level energy security, assesses the current state of affairs from a global perspective, and postulates what the next few decades might look like based on current macro-trends in energy resource development and consumption.

Biography

Dr. Beach is the Associate Director for Energy & Technology Policy at the Energy Institute. He is responsible for supervising and conducting research and studies related to the interplay between the development of Energy Policy, Environmental Policy, and Technology Policy. Dr. Beach also teaches Energy Technology Policy and International Energy Policy in the Cockrell School of Engineering and McCombs Business School.

Prior to joining The University of Texas at Austin, Dr. Beach served for twenty-five years in the United States Navy where he was a qualified Submariner, Naval Aviator, Surface Warfare Officer, and Acquisition Professional. Since retiring in 2003 he has also served as a consultant on defense-related topics for the U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group, MITRE, Naval Research Advisory Committee, Naval Research Laboratory, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and the Defense Science Board.

Dr. Beach holds a Ph.D. from the LBJ School of Public Policy, University of Texas at Austin an M.S. in Physics from the Naval Postgraduate School, and a B.S. in Chemistry with a minor in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Oklahoma. He is also a graduate of the Defense Acquisition University and Certified Level III DoD Acquisition Professional and Program Manager.

POC

Dr. Daniel A. Nussbaum
Naval Postgraduate School 
Principal, Energy Academic Group
Monterey CA 93943
Phone: 831-656-2387
Mobile: 831-324-3228
Email: dnussbaum@nps.edu