John Kotek
Partner, Boise

Gallatin Press Release
April 13, 2010

Former National Security Advisor Brent Scrowcroft and former Indiana Congressman Lee Hamilton, the co-chairs of the Obama Administration's Blue Ribbon Panel on America's nuclear future, have asked Gallatin Partner, John Kotek, to serve as the panel's staff director. The high-powered group including business, energy, labor and political leaders, was appointed by the Secretary of Energy to make recommendations on managing nuclear fuel and waste materials. The panel is considered a critical step to getting the country's nuclear energy policy on a better trajectory.

The good news for Gallatin and our clients is that this is a temporary assignment for John and he will be returning full-time to the firm when he completes this important and prestigious work. We can't imagine a better person to serve this role.

John heads our firm's Energy Policy and Siting Practice Group and his background working with the Department of Energy - he served as Deputy Manager of the Idaho Department of Energy office - equips him perfectly to lead the Blue Ribbon panel staff. We have often joked that every public affairs firm needs a nuclear engineer on staff, but what makes John so effective is his rare combination of technical and business experience and public affairs expertise. John will be spending even more of his time over the next few months in Washington, D.C., but his colleagues are happy to support him as he supports this critical national effort.