During the 2023 TCU Energy Summit coordinated by the Ralph Lowe Energy Institute, a collective of industry experts, higher education partners, students and alumni refined an energy security proposal for an upcoming meeting with U.S. Navy Admiral Samuel Paparo and the Department of Defense.
October 24, 2023
By Jen Engel
Homecoming is one of the best moments for a university because it highlights the power of cascading generations. Some familiar faces returned to campus for this year’s homecoming, which also marked the finale week for TCU’s 150th celebration.
TCU alumni Kyle Bass and Scott Baum contributed their industry knowledge to the Ralph Lowe Energy Institute’s TCU Energy Summit, where they joined others in refining a global energy security proposal that will be presented to Admiral Samuel Paparo, Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and his team in December as part of the university’s joint partnership with the United States Department of Defense.
“You just participated in something called creation of policy,” announced Baum, vice president, Growth & Strategy at Elbit America and a board member for the Ralph Lowe Energy Institute, as he spoke to an audience of industry leaders, higher education partners, students and alumni at the conclusion of the day’s discussion.
The goal of the Energy institute’s joint partnership with the DOD has been to develop an energy security plan for our strategic partners in the Southwest Pacific Islands. The institute turned the annual TCU Energy Summit into a conversation to elicit feedback on the proposal.
Ann Bluntzer, the executive director for the Ralph Lowe Energy Institute, delivered preliminary findings to a room filled with TCU Board of Trustee members, Neeley School of Business students, Energy MBAs, alumni, Energy institute board members, faculty and our partners from Oklahoma State University, as well as industry experts.
“Utilizing the TCU Neeley School of Business and our relationships, we are able to tap into solutions on energy security that make both environmental and economic sense,” said Bluntzer. “The business of energy is about finding innovative solutions that are also economically viable.”
The feedback from people like Bill Montgomery, partner at Quantum Capital Group, and Bass, Founder and CIO at Hayman Capital Group, and the assembled stakeholders at the summit will be invaluable in the days and weeks leading up to the presentation.
