Houston Energy & Climate Week Executive Welcome Dinner
The Executive Welcome Dinner is a hallmark event marking the inaugural Houston Energy and Climate Week.
Sponsored by Octopus Energy USA
This invitation-only gathering, hosted by Allies in Energy, will convene inaugural supporters, visionaries, and media in the energy and climate sectors. It will provide a unique opportunity to network, share insights, and discuss pivotal challenges and innovations shaping Houston's future.
Attendees will enjoy dinner while engaging in thought-provoking conversations to foster collaboration and advance sustainable solutions. This evening sets the tone for an impactful week, celebrating our Unity Commitment.
Fireside Chat: Colonel Rhett A. Blackmon, District Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District
HOST COMMITTEE
Lindsay Roe, Director of Digital Innovation, Core Laboratories & President, Allies in Energy
Sarah Magruder, CEO and Founder, Savvy Oil and Gas Consulting & Vice President, Allies in Energy
Elizabeth (Liz) Franzen, Senior Manager, KPMG, Treasurer, Allies in Energy
Monical Krishnan, Commercial Advisor, Chevron New Energies, and Board Director, Allies in Energy
Geeta Thakorlal, Executive Group Director, Worley, and Board Director, Allies in Energy
Kent Albert Johnson, Co-Founder and CEO, CLS Wind, and Board Director, Allies in Energy
Katie Mehnert, CEO, ALLY Energy, Board Director, Allies in Energy, and Co-Chair of Houston Energy and Climate Week
Juliana Garaizar, Founding Partner, Energy Tech Nexus and Co-Chair of Houston Energy and Climate Week
About our guest: Col Rhett A. Blackmon
COL Rhett A. Blackmon is the Commander and District Engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District where he leads a water resource district with more than 600 civilian and military professionals and project authorizations totaling more than $7.4 billion.
The Galveston District provides construction, navigation, environmental restoration, flood risk management, shoreline protection, regulatory, and emergency management services for mission partners in an area of responsibility that spans the Texas coast from Louisiana to Mexico, encompassing 50,000 square miles. Blackmon is charged with executing the District’s mission of providing public engineering services to strengthen security along the Texas coast, energizing the local economy, and reducing risks from disasters.
Blackmon took command of the Galveston District on July 15, 2022. Before his current assignment, he completed a U.S. Army War College Fellowship at the University of Washington in Seattle. While in Seattle, Blackmon conducted independent research on ways the Department of Defense and Army could leverage infrastructure investment to increase access and influence in the Indo-Pacific.
Blackmon previously served in tactical assignments, including platoon leader in the 65th Engineer Battalion and 73rd Engineer Company at Fort Lewis, Washington; personnel officer and Bravo Company Commander with the 44th Engineer Battalion in Korea, Iraq, and Fort Carson, CO; division facilities and construction officer (Afghanistan) and battalion S3 with the 82nd Airborne Division and battalion and brigade executive officer with the 20th Engineer Brigade at Fort Bragg, NC. He commanded the 3rd US Cavalry Regiment’s Engineer Squadron at Fort Hood, TX, and in northern Iraq. He later commanded the Engineer Battalion in the 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB) recently formed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA.
Between tactical assignments, Blackmon served on the civil engineering faculty at West Point and later as the USACE Memphis District Deputy Commander.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the Citadel and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Southern California. His military education includes the Engineer Officer Basic Course, the Infantry Captains’ Career Course, and Intermediate Level Education qualification from the Command and General Staff College. His tactical schools include Ranger School, the Sapper Leader Course, Airborne School, Air Assault School, and Jumpmaster School.
His military decorations include the Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy Unit Commendation; an Army Superior Unit Award; a National Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan, Iraq, and Inherent Resolve Campaign Medals; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals; a Bronze Star Medal; a Meritorious Service Medal; an Army Commendation Medal; an Army Achievement Medal; the Bronze Order of the DeFleury Medal; and a General Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award.