Council to Hire New Oil and Gas Infrastructure Lead
The National Energy Dominance Council will appoint McKenna Skeeters to oversee infrastructure strategy starting November 2.
Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Oil and Gas
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McKenna Skeeters will transition from her role as chief of staff at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to join the National Energy Dominance Council. Starting November 2, 2026, Skeeters will focus on the oversight and development of oil and gas infrastructure within the United States.
Why it matters
The appointment marks a strategic shift for the council, which experienced leadership turnover earlier this year following the departures of Brittany Kelm and Peter Lake. Operators in the energy sector should note this change as a signal of the council's upcoming regulatory priorities for oil and gas infrastructure.
This leadership transition follows the departures of two council members earlier in 2026, bringing the total headcount shift for the National Energy Dominance Council to three key personnel changes this year. The scope of the new role covers all domestic oil and gas infrastructure projects.
The players
McKenna Skeeters
Incoming infrastructure lead at the National Energy Dominance Council and former chief of staff at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
National Energy Dominance Council
An entity focused on the strategic oversight and coordination of energy infrastructure within the United States.
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
A federal agency that regulates the interstate transmission of natural gas, oil by pipeline, and electricity.
The details
Skeeters moves to the council after serving as the chief of staff at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, a body that oversees interstate natural gas pipelines and storage facilities. Her new role will focus on navigating the complexities of U.S. energy infrastructure, which requires balancing regulatory compliance with ongoing development demands. This change comes after a year of turnover at the council, where Brittany Kelm and Peter Lake both exited their positions.
Timeline
Brittany Kelm and Peter Lake departed the council earlier in 2026.
McKenna Skeeters begins her new role at the council on November 2, 2026.
Market Landscape
This appointment positions the council to draw directly from the policy expertise of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. It reflects an ongoing trend of high-level personnel rotations between federal regulatory bodies and strategic infrastructure councils.
Operators should monitor the council's early policy statements following the November 2, 2026, transition for shifts in permitting or project approval standards. Infrastructure-heavy firms should review current compliance filings to prepare for potential changes in regulatory focus.
The takeaway
The move signals a consolidation of energy regulatory expertise as the council prepares for future infrastructure policy. Operators should track the council's first major policy briefings in late 2026 to identify new requirements for infrastructure compliance and development.
Further reading
For broader trends in the sector, review the latest updates in Oil and Gas.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Bloomberglaw.
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