Dr. O’Brien has over forty-five years of experience in energy regulation as a thought leader and an expert in the analysis of energy economics, promulgation of energy regulation, and application of and development of new energy technologies. He is a Professor of Public Administration at Flagler College and President and CEO of the Vista Consulting Group. Dr. O’Brien is also a former Commissioner on the Florida Energy Commission, serving as Co-Chair of its Climate Change Subcommittee and served for 10 years as a Full Scientist at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory in its Department of Nuclear Energy. He has also served as a subject matter expert and expert witness providing litigation support services in numerous energy-related judicial actions and regulatory proceedings in state and federal courts and administrative agencies. His history includes serving as President of Global Change Associates, Inc., an international climate advisory; Principal at Skipping Stone, Inc., a US energy advisory on state energy regulation; and Founder, President, and CEO of several significant energy companies.
His areas of expertise include analysis of climate change issues including evaluating and executing mitigation and abatement strategies and addressing social justice issues; he has taught classes on ethics including intergenerational issues, international economics and courses on program evaluation of government programs; taught courses on business and government ethics and practices; expert on the regulation and functioning of the electric and natural gas markets and related infrastructure; utility investment in infrastructure and strategies; renewable energy investment, economics and regulation; energy production, conversion and storage; securities, investment banking, financial analysis and project finance in the energy sector; judicial procedure in litigation support; commercial energy contract requirements; and applications for small modular nuclear reactors, among others.
Professor – 2007 to Present
Flagler College, Public Administration Department, St Augustine, FL 32084
Dr. O’Brien has been teaching and an active Professor in Flagler College’s Public Administration Department in a number of areas of public policy. These courses include ethics in public service and businesses, US economic policy, macroeconomics, international trade policies, social research methods, social program evaluation, and health care policy, among others. He continues to actively teach and maintain his expertise in many important areas of public policy.
Commissioner and Co-Chair Climate Change Working Group – 2006 to 2008
Florida Energy Commission, Tallahassee, FL 32303
Dr. O’Brien was appointed by the President of the Florida Senate to serve as a sitting Commissioner on the Florida Energy Commission. The Commission was charged with establishing a set of recommendations for the Florida Legislature to formulate an overall energy policy for the State. Dr. O’Brien also was Co-Chairman of the Climate Change Subcommittee of the Commission. In addition to the general work of the Commission, Dr. O’Brien attended and co-chaired all of the Climate Change Subcommittee Public Hearings and attended and participated in all of the full Commission’s Public Hearings and General Sessions. He also participated in all deliberations and voted on all matters before the Commission.
Full Scientist - US Department of Energy, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY
Studied and consulted on various areas of energy regulation in the Laboratory’s Department of Nuclear Energy for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the U.S. Department of Energy, as well as numerous other federal agencies. He held a Secret Security “Q” Clearance for ten years. He was the youngest individual to achieve the status of Full Scientist in Brookhaven Laboratory’s history. He achieved national reputation for studies in organization and management in the electric utility industry. He published over 50 reports, articles, three law review articles and a book on nuclear nonproliferation while at Brookhaven.
Testimony and Public Speaking Activities
Judicial Testimony and Litigation Expert Services
Dr. O’Brien has been an expert witness and subject matter expert in over 35 complex litigation actions involving energy matters. He has prepared and sponsored expert reports and testified in court and depositions on various topics including securities fraud, material omissions and commissions and other violations; technology innovations; damage calculations; hydraulic fracturing disputes; solar net metering and tariff provisions; commercial business disputes; mineral rights and royalty disputes; energy market studies; regulatory noncompliance; fraudulent product claims; and consumer fraud, among others. He has often testified in plaintiff class action adjudication. References on judicial subject matter expert and expert witness services rendered may be provided by request and subject to nondisclosure and confidentiality agreements.
United States Congress
Dr. O’Brien testified before the Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives, One Hundred and Fifth Congress, on Antitrust Aspects of Electricity Deregulation
Testified before the House Small Business Committee, Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform and Paperwork Reduction Electric Utility Restructuring: The Small Business Perspective.
State Legislatures
Testified before the New York State Assembly Energy Committee on the Potential Effects of Electricity Deregulation in the State of New York.
State Regulatory Proceedings
Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities
In the Matter of Restructuring the Gas Markets
Testimony of Dr. John N. O’Brien Briefs - Docket D.P.U./D.T.E. 96-23
Massachusetts Electric Company Testimony of Dr. John N. O’Brien Briefs—Docket D.P.U./D.T.E. 96-23
Virginia Corporations Commission
Case PUE-2004-00085
Washington Gas Light
Testimony of Dr. John N. O’Brien Briefs
New York Public Service Commission
Case 96-E-0897 Con Edison, Electric Restructuring Testimony of Dr. John N. O’Brien Briefs
Case 96-E-0891 NYSEG, Electric Restructuring Testimony of Dr. John N. O’Brien Briefs
Case 96-E-089 Rochester Gas & Electric Corporation, Electric Restructuring Testimony of Dr. John N. O’Brien Briefs
Case 96-E-0900 Orange & Rockland, Electric Restructuring Testimony of Dr. John N. O’Brien Briefs
Case 96-E-0909 Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation, Electric Restructuring Testimony of Dr. John N. O’Brien Briefs
Case 96-E-0948 Petition of Dairylea Cooperative to Establish an Open Access Pilot Program for Farm and Food Processor Electricity Customers (Wheeled Electric Power Company filed the Petition on behalf of Dairylea)
CORPORATE TRAINING
Dr. O’Brien has conducted training for the following clients including, but not limited to:
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission
PG&E
Exelon
PEPCO
Cummins Corp.
COLLEGE COURSES TAUGHT
The History of US Economic Policy
Public Economy
Macroeconomics
International Trade Policy
Fiscal Management
Ethics in Public Service
Business Ethics
US Health Care Policy
Social Research Methods
General Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Environmental Chemistry
Introduction to Public Policy Issues
Program Evaluation
Public Speaking Engagements
Dr. O’Brien has extensive experience as a public speaker on many aspects of the electricity and natural gas markets. Program sponsors include, but not limited to:
Harvard Business School (Energy Symposia)
National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC)
New York University Energy Forum
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Public Finance Forum Mid-America Regulatory Conference (MARC) Electric Consumers Research Council (ELCON) Information Forecast (INFOCAST)
Center for Business Intelligence (CBI)
Power Marketers Association (PMA)
Electric Utility Consultants, Inc. (EUCI)
Gas Mart
His areas of expertise include analysis of climate change issues including evaluating and executing mitigation and abatement strategies and addressing social justice issues; he has taught classes on ethics including intergenerational issues, international economics and courses on program evaluation of government programs; taught courses on business and government ethics and practices; expert on the regulation and functioning of the electric and natural gas markets and related infrastructure; utility investment in infrastructure and strategies; renewable energy investment, economics and regulation; energy production, conversion and storage; securities, investment banking, financial analysis and project finance in the energy sector; judicial procedure in litigation support; commercial energy contract requirements; and applications for small modular nuclear reactors, among others.
Professor – 2007 to Present
Flagler College, Public Administration Department, St Augustine, FL 32084
Dr. O’Brien has been teaching and an active Professor in Flagler College’s Public Administration Department in a number of areas of public policy. These courses include ethics in public service and businesses, US economic policy, macroeconomics, international trade policies, social research methods, social program evaluation, and health care policy, among others. He continues to actively teach and maintain his expertise in many important areas of public policy.
Commissioner and Co-Chair Climate Change Working Group – 2006 to 2008
Florida Energy Commission, Tallahassee, FL 32303
Dr. O’Brien was appointed by the President of the Florida Senate to serve as a sitting Commissioner on the Florida Energy Commission. The Commission was charged with establishing a set of recommendations for the Florida Legislature to formulate an overall energy policy for the State. Dr. O’Brien also was Co-Chairman of the Climate Change Subcommittee of the Commission. In addition to the general work of the Commission, Dr. O’Brien attended and co-chaired all of the Climate Change Subcommittee Public Hearings and attended and participated in all of the full Commission’s Public Hearings and General Sessions. He also participated in all deliberations and voted on all matters before the Commission.
Full Scientist - US Department of Energy, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY
Studied and consulted on various areas of energy regulation in the Laboratory’s Department of Nuclear Energy for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the U.S. Department of Energy, as well as numerous other federal agencies. He held a Secret Security “Q” Clearance for ten years. He was the youngest individual to achieve the status of Full Scientist in Brookhaven Laboratory’s history. He achieved national reputation for studies in organization and management in the electric utility industry. He published over 50 reports, articles, three law review articles and a book on nuclear nonproliferation while at Brookhaven.
Testimony and Public Speaking Activities
Judicial Testimony and Litigation Expert Services
Dr. O’Brien has been an expert witness and subject matter expert in over 35 complex litigation actions involving energy matters. He has prepared and sponsored expert reports and testified in court and depositions on various topics including securities fraud, material omissions and commissions and other violations; technology innovations; damage calculations; hydraulic fracturing disputes; solar net metering and tariff provisions; commercial business disputes; mineral rights and royalty disputes; energy market studies; regulatory noncompliance; fraudulent product claims; and consumer fraud, among others. He has often testified in plaintiff class action adjudication. References on judicial subject matter expert and expert witness services rendered may be provided by request and subject to nondisclosure and confidentiality agreements.
United States Congress
Dr. O’Brien testified before the Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives, One Hundred and Fifth Congress, on Antitrust Aspects of Electricity Deregulation
Testified before the House Small Business Committee, Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform and Paperwork Reduction Electric Utility Restructuring: The Small Business Perspective.
State Legislatures
Testified before the New York State Assembly Energy Committee on the Potential Effects of Electricity Deregulation in the State of New York.
State Regulatory Proceedings
Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities
In the Matter of Restructuring the Gas Markets
Testimony of Dr. John N. O’Brien Briefs - Docket D.P.U./D.T.E. 96-23
Massachusetts Electric Company Testimony of Dr. John N. O’Brien Briefs—Docket D.P.U./D.T.E. 96-23
Virginia Corporations Commission
Case PUE-2004-00085
Washington Gas Light
Testimony of Dr. John N. O’Brien Briefs
New York Public Service Commission
Case 96-E-0897 Con Edison, Electric Restructuring Testimony of Dr. John N. O’Brien Briefs
Case 96-E-0891 NYSEG, Electric Restructuring Testimony of Dr. John N. O’Brien Briefs
Case 96-E-089 Rochester Gas & Electric Corporation, Electric Restructuring Testimony of Dr. John N. O’Brien Briefs
Case 96-E-0900 Orange & Rockland, Electric Restructuring Testimony of Dr. John N. O’Brien Briefs
Case 96-E-0909 Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation, Electric Restructuring Testimony of Dr. John N. O’Brien Briefs
Case 96-E-0948 Petition of Dairylea Cooperative to Establish an Open Access Pilot Program for Farm and Food Processor Electricity Customers (Wheeled Electric Power Company filed the Petition on behalf of Dairylea)
CORPORATE TRAINING
Dr. O’Brien has conducted training for the following clients including, but not limited to:
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission
PG&E
Exelon
PEPCO
Cummins Corp.
COLLEGE COURSES TAUGHT
The History of US Economic Policy
Public Economy
Macroeconomics
International Trade Policy
Fiscal Management
Ethics in Public Service
Business Ethics
US Health Care Policy
Social Research Methods
General Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Environmental Chemistry
Introduction to Public Policy Issues
Program Evaluation
Public Speaking Engagements
Dr. O’Brien has extensive experience as a public speaker on many aspects of the electricity and natural gas markets. Program sponsors include, but not limited to:
Harvard Business School (Energy Symposia)
National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC)
New York University Energy Forum
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Public Finance Forum Mid-America Regulatory Conference (MARC) Electric Consumers Research Council (ELCON) Information Forecast (INFOCAST)
Center for Business Intelligence (CBI)
Power Marketers Association (PMA)
Electric Utility Consultants, Inc. (EUCI)
Gas Mart