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Biography

Robert McNally is a Non-Resident Fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy, and the author of Crude Volatility: The History and the Future of Boom-Bust Oil Prices, published by the Columbia University Press. In his full-time capacity he is the founder and President of the Rapidan Energy Group, an independent energy consulting and market advisory firm based in the Washington DC area. Mr. McNally’s clients include leading global energy market investors, producers, and traders. Mr. McNally’s 24-year professional career includes senior financial market and official posts spanning economic, security, and environmental aspects of energy market analysis, strategy, and policymaking.

Mr. McNally started his professional career in 1991 as an oil market analyst and consultant with Energy Security Analysis, Inc. In 1994, he joined Tudor Investment Corporation and for twelve subsequent years analyzed energy markets, macroeconomic policy, and geopolitics for Tudor portfolio managers, earning promotion to Vice President and Managing Director. From 2001 to 2003, Mr. McNally served as the top international and domestic energy adviser on the White House staff, holding the posts of Special Assistant to the President on the National Economic Council and, in 2003, Senior Director for International Energy on the National Security Council. Mr. McNally served in the Peace Corps in Senegal from 1988-1990.

Mr. McNally earned his double major BA/BS in International Relations and Political Science from American University and his MA in International Economics and American Foreign Policy from Johns Hopkins Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). He was co-chair for energy policy on the 2008 Romney Campaign, served on the Policy Advisory Committee for Senator Marco Rubio’s 2010 campaign, and regularly advises congressional and administration officials on energy policy and markets. Mr. McNally is a Member of the National Petroleum Council.Mr. McNally has testified to the House and Senate on energy markets and national security and speaks to professional conferences on energy markets, policy, and geopolitics. He has been published in Foreign Affairs (co-authored essay with Michael Levi, July/August 2011) and has been interviewed by CNN, The Economist, Fox Business, The Financial Times, The Washington Post, National Journal, Platts Energy Week TV, PBS’ Great Decisions in Foreign Policy series, Bloomberg News, Aviation Daily and other programs and journals.

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Recapping a (Respectful) Dialogue About IEA Analysis

Bob McNally, a Non-Resident Fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy and former Special Assistant to the President on the National Economic Council from 2001-2003, published an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal critical of how the IEA’s mission has changed to where it is today. In response, Jason Bordoff, the Founding Director of the Center on Global Energy Policy, shared reflections and critiques of points made in the piece on LinkedIn.

Announcement • March 22, 2024
Recapping a (Respectful) Dialogue About IEA Analysis

Welcome Back to Boom-Bust Oil Prices

In this commentary piece, Bob McNally, a Fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy and Founder and President of The Rapidan Group, explains how OPEC abdicated the role of market manager over ten years ago--not just in the last year--and that we have already seen the results in a boom (2004–2008) and two busts (2008, 2014–2015) in oil prices.

Commentary by Robert McNally • December 17, 2015