Donald Paul is the Executive Director of the USC Energy Institute, Professor of Engineering, and holds the William M. Keck Chair of Energy Resources.
The USC Energy Institute supports university-wide research, education, workforce development, and commercialization initiatives with industry and governments in the area of “intelligent energy”, involving the intersection of digital technologies, systems engineering, and energy infrastructures. Major programs include: digital oilfields, smart power grids, and cyber-physical security for critical energy infrastructures.
Dr. Paul had a distinguished 33-year career with the Chevron Corporation, retiring in June 2008 as Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. During his career, he advanced through positions of increasing responsibility in research and technology, exploration and production operations, and executive management, including appointment as the president of Chevron’s Canadian subsidiary. He also served as the senior officer responsible for Chevron’s global cyber-security technology programs, implementation, and related compliance processes.
Dr. Paul also serves as a Senior Advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington D.C. and in 2014, was re-appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Energy to serve as an academic representative to the National Petroleum Council. He participates in advisory roles at several major universities (including USC, MIT, Harvard, Rice, Stanford, and the University of Texas), governments and national laboratories, oil and gas companies, power utilities, and technology companies. He is frequently recruited to speak at national and international forums on the future of energy, the cyber-ecurity of energy systems, intelligent energy infrastructures, petroleum economics, and energy careers.
He holds B.S., M.S., and PhD degrees from MIT and an honorary doctorate from the Colorado School of Mines.