Michael Considine

Deputy Assistant Secretary at U.S. Department of Energy

Speaker

Mr. Michael Considine is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the national security functions within the Office of International Affairs at the Department of Energy, (DOE). Michael oversees the Office for Foreign Investment and National Security which is the DOE lead office for the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S (CFIUS). In addition, Mr. Considine oversees the Office of International Science and Technology Collaboration and the Office of Research, Technology and Economic Security. These offices are vital functions within DOE to ensure having an open investment climate, encouraging cutting edge science and technology collaboration as well as properly vetting public tax dollar usage for research and grants while in proper balance with our national security priorities. Michael joined the DOE in 2009 and provides senior leadership comprehensive analysis on national security issues affecting DOE.

Prior to the DOE, Michael was at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as the Director for Eurasia Affairs and Intellectual Property Issues. As a frequent traveler to Russia and other countries throughout Eurasia and Eastern Europe, he managed initiatives that focused on trade and investments in the Russian market. He worked on several intellectual property issues with Russia including those associated with Russia’s WTO accession process. He also directed other policy initiatives that focused on regional economic issues in Central Asia and the Caucasus.

For three years Michael had the honor of serving as the Deputy Legislative Director and Senior Policy Advisor for International Trade, Finance, and Development for U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska (former Secretary of Defense). He was the Senator’s senior advisor to the U.S. Senate Banking Committee and the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Earlier in his career, Michael was an International Trade Specialist with the U.S. Department of Commerce, and previously spent several years in the private sector developing business opportunities in emerging market economies. Michael also served as an advisor to the World Bank/IMF Annual meetings.

Michael has worked extensively on trade and investment issues in Russia, China, Europe, and Latin America. He speaks fluent Russian and has working knowledge of other Slavic languages, and knowledge of several European languages with some Arabic.

Michael holds a BA from University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth in political science/international relations. He is a former U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant having served in Beirut, Lebanon during the conflict there in the early 1980’s.