Amos Hochstein

Amos Hochstein
Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs
Incumbent
Assumed office August 1, 2014
President	Barack Obama
Preceded by	Carlos Pascual
Personal details
Born	(1973-01-04) January 4, 1973
Nationality	United States
Political party	Democratic
Children	4

Amos J. Hochstein^[1] (born January 4, 1973) is a U.S. diplomat and the current Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs.

Career

Advising Congress

Hochstein began his career in Washington, D.C. on Capitol Hill where he served in a variety of senior level positions, ultimately serving as the Senior Policy Advisor to the Foreign Affairs Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives. Hochstein first served as the principal Democratic staff person on the Economic Policy, Trade & Environment Subcommittee where he oversaw work authorizing Ex-Im Bank, OPIC and USTDA, as well as drafting legislation on export controls and trade-related multilateral organizations and regimes. Hochstein worked as a Senior Policy Advisor to then-Governor Mark Warner, and later as Policy Director for Senator Chris Dodd.^[1] Hochstein was also an aide to Representative Sam Gejdenson.^[2]

As a lobbyist

Hochstein later moved to the private sector as Executive Vice President of International Operations at Cassidy & Associates. Throughout his career, he was a counselor and lobbyist for both domestic and international oil and gas companies, as well as companies focusing on renewable energy. In this capacity, he assisted corporations in assessing potential new markets and the development of alternative sources of power.^[1]

While working at Cassidy & Associates, Hochstein lobbied on behalf of the President of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema, Africa's longest serving dictator,^[3] to improve the relationship with the United States. Hochstein defended the Obiang regime in an interview with the Washington Post.^[4]

Energy diplomat for the Obama Administration

Hochstein began working at the U.S. Department of State in 2011, joining the newly formed Bureau of Energy Resources.^[5] Serving as deputy to Special Envoy Carlos Pascual, Hochstein worked to help Ukraine find new supplies of natural gas in the wake of the 2014 Russian invasion.^[6]

On August 1, 2014, Hochstein became the acting Special Envoy and Coordinator of International Energy Affairs, and was permanently appointed to the position later in the year.^[6] As the Special Envoy, Hochstein oversees the Bureau of Energy Resources and advises Secretary of State John Kerry on global energy security and diplomacy.

In his capacity as the U.S.'s Chief Energy Diplomat, Hochstein worked closely with ^[7]U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, accompanying him on international travel and advancing energy as a key US foreign policy tool. Hochstein and Biden worked together on the Caribbean Energy Security Initiative, Central America Energy Security Task Force, Cyprus and East Mediterranean, as well as securing Ukraine and Europe from Russian energy dominance.

Hochstein encouraged European countries to find new oil, gas, coal, and nuclear sources, to alleviate their dependence on Russian energy.^[8] In response to President Vladimir Putin's plans for new gas pipelines to bypass an existing transit coordinator through Ukraine towards Greece and Italy, Hochstein described the plans as "political projects that have questionable economic value" to the European energy market.^[9] He has also stated that the U.S.'s position isn't to exclude Russia from the European market entirely, but rather that Russia should be an equal player, remarking that "European countries should be able to choose their supplier and force their suppliers to compete for their business. That is what is good for energy security of Europe, economic security and ultimately for the national security of those countries involved."^[9][10]

Hochstein has also been involved in the U.S. front against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, specifically cutting their oil revenues by disrupting their production lines.^[11] Hochstein's team coordinated with the U.S. Department of Defense to determine targets.^[12] Airstrikes subsequently blew up nearly 400 tanker trucks.^[13] In a testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Hochstein described the military actions as "not only more bombings, but a different kind of bombing."^[6]

Hochstein’s energy diplomacy efforts in the Middle East have been critical.^[14] Prime Minister ''Netanyahu, Benjamin'' cited Hochstein’s work as helping to provide an incentive for the renewed relationship between Israel and Turkey.^[15] This followed his work to revive efforts to settle maritime border dispute between Lebanon and Israel.^[16] At the conclusion of his visit, Hochstein made statements stressing his visit was to discuss delayed gas exploration in Lebanon.^[17] The previous year, 2014, Hochstein helped “pave the way” for the $500 million natural gas agreement between Israel and Jordan.^[18] This agreement concluded an effort that Secretary of State Clinton began in 2011.^[19]

In response to Russian officials claiming that the Turkish government was illegally buying oil from the Islamic State, Hochstein dismissed these claims, saying that "I do not believe there is significant smuggling between ISIL-controlled areas and Turkey of oil of any significant volume."^[20]

Hochstein has also worked on multilateral energy affairs, meeting with Urban Rusnák, Secretary-General of the Energy Charter Conference, to discuss progress on the Energy Charter Process.^[21]

On October 8, 2015, President Barack Obama nominated Hochstein to be the Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources, the official chief position for the bureau.^[22][23]

Personal life

Hochstein is married to Julie Rae Ringel. They have four children.^[2]

References