Chris Deschene

Christopher Deschene
Director of the Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs US Department of Energy
In office
2015–2017
President Barack Obama
Personal details
Born 1970 (age 47–48)
California, U.S.
Citizenship  USA
 Navajo Nation
Political party Democratic
Residence Washington, District of Columbia
Alma mater United States Naval Academy
Arizona State University
Occupation Energy lawyer

Christopher L. Clark Deschene is an American attorney and energy development expert.[1] He is a member of the Navajo Nation, was the Democratic Party's candidate for Secretary of State in Arizona in 2010, and was an appointee at the Department of Energy under President Barack Obama.[2] He is the first member of a Native American nation to have run for the second highest office in Arizona.[3]

Biography

Deschene was born in California,[4] but moved with his parents, a homemaker from Dennehotso and a welder from the area North of Tuba City, to Lechee where he spent his youth. He attended High School in nearby Page.[2] After graduating from High School in 1989, Deschene attended the United States Naval Academy from which he graduated in 1993 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a commission as a 2nd LT in the United States Marine Corps.[5] He was deployed on several missions overseas, including the Persian Gulf and Southeast Asia.[4] After completing two tours of active duty, Deschene continued on as a reservist for a total of 10 years of military service.[5]

After leaving the Marines, Deschene attended Arizona State University, graduating with a law degree and a master's degree in Science Engineering.[5][6] He subsequently co-founded Law Office of Schaff & Clark Deschene, specializing in questions of energy infrastructure.[4] Deschene worked at this firm for a decade before joining the Obama Administration in 2015.[6][7]

His grandfather was a Navajo code talker during World War II.[8] Deschene is married with children.

Deschene was a member of the Arizona State Legislature from 2009 to 2011, representing District 2. He was member of both the Committee for Natural Resources and Rural Affairs and the Committee for Water and Energy. Prior to his election to the legislature, he was the chair of the Apache County Democratic Party from 2007 to 2008[2] and the chair of the Native American Democratic Caucus.[4]

In 2010, he won the Democratic Party's nomination for Secretary of State, beating Sam Wercinski with 62.7% vs. 37.3% of the votes.[9] He lost the general election to Ken Bennett.[10]

In 2014, he ran for president of the Navajo Nation. However, on October 9, 2014, Deschene was disqualified from that Presidential Election by the Navajo Nation Office of Hearings and Appeals for failing to show fluency in the Navajo language.[3][9]

In 2015, Deschene joined the Department of Energy as the Director for the Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs under President Barack Obama.[1] He served in that role through the end of the administration and aided in the transition effort.[11]

In June 2017, he joined Rosette, LLP law firm as a partner in their DC office.[6] Deschene currently practices energy law at the majority-Native-owned national law firm.[12]

References

  1. 1 2 "Christopher Clark Deschene Announced as DOE Office of Indian Energy Director". Energy.gov. 2015-05-19. Retrieved 2017-12-10.
  2. 1 2 3 descheneforarizona.com Archived February 2, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.. Campaign website. Accessed 2010-10-10.
  3. 1 2 Arizona Diné fare well in primary. Navajo Times. 2010-08-26. Accessed 2010-10-10.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Christopher Deschene. Biography. Arizona State Legislature. Accessed 2010-10-10.
  5. 1 2 3 "Q&A with Office of Indian Energy Director Chris Deschene". Energy.gov. Retrieved 2017-12-10.
  6. 1 2 3 LLP, Rosette,. "Chris Deschene Joins National Law Firm Rosette, LLP As A Partner In Washington, D.C. Office". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2017-12-10.
  7. ↑ "Chris Deschene – Rosette, LLP". www.rosettelaw.com. Retrieved 2017-12-11.
  8. ↑ "About Chris". Descheneforarizona.com. Retrieved October 11, 2010.
  9. 1 2 Ahtone, Tristain (2014-10-30). "Navajo Nation Presidential Candidate Suspends Campaign". NPR.org. Retrieved 2017-12-10.
  10. ↑ "Christopher Deschene - Ballotpedia". Retrieved 2017-12-11.
  11. ↑ "Christopher Clark Deschene | Department of Energy". energy.gov. Retrieved 2017-12-11.
  12. ↑ Allen, Krista (2017-06-09). "Deschene joins D.C. law firm to work in energy development - Navajo Times". Navajo Times. Retrieved 2017-12-10.
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