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 (Columbia University Press, 2017). In his full-time capacity, he is the founder and president of Rapidan Energy Group, an independent energy consulting and market advisory firm based in the Washington, DC area. McNally’s clients include leading global energy market investors, producers, and traders. 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. 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 12 subsequent years analyzed energy markets, macroeconomic policy, and geopolitics for Tudor portfolio managers, earning promotion to vice president and managing director. From 2001-03, McNally served as the top international and domestic energy advisor 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. McNally served in the Peace Corps in Senegal from 1988-90.  

McNally earned a double major BA/BS in international relations and political science from American University and an MA in international economics and American foreign policy from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. He was co-chair for energy policy on the 2008 Mitt Romney presidential 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. McNally is a member of the National Petroleum Council. He 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 and given interviews to CNN, The Economist, Fox Business, 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.