Mahoning Valley native Rick Stockburger has been named inaugural CEO of the Foundation for Energy Security and Innovation, the U.S. Department of Energy announced Monday.

The former president and CEO of BRITE Energy Innovators in Warren, Stockburger will oversee the department’s first independent, agency-related foundation. Its mission is to advance the commercialization of energy technology and expand collaboration between the private and public sectors while strengthening the nation’s energy system, the department said in a news release.

“We need a commercialization system that works for every community and every technology,” said Stockburger, a 2002 West Branch High School graduate. “FESI is here to help close the gap between great energy ideas and lasting impact.”

The decorated U.S. Army combat veteran directed BRITE operations as CEO and president for approximately eight years. In part of a planned organizational transition, Stockburger stepped down from his post last month. BRITE’s former managing director, Jing Lyon, serves as interim CEO as its board searches for Stockburger’s replacement.

“Rick’s proven leadership and background will help advance the department’s efforts to move emerging technologies into real world energy deployment — strengthening American science, innovation and energy leadership,” U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said. “With him in place, FESI will be a valuable partner in expanding private-sector collaboration and delivering on President Trump’s agenda to unleash American energy and innovation.”

Officials touted Stockburger’s military service in Kosovo and Afghanistan along with his work in the energy sector.

“Rick’s decorated service to our country while in the U.S. Army, combined with his leadership in technology entrepreneurship in the private sector, makes him an outstanding choice to be FESI’s first CEO,” said Anthony Pugliese, DOE Chief Commercialization Officer and director of the Office of Technology Commercialization.

While at BRITE, Stockburger’s leadership assisted portfolio companies in raising more than $200 million in capital last year. Since its founding in 2010, BRITE has supported more than 650 energy-tech startups, catalyzing more than 2,100 jobs and collecting more than half a billion dollars in third-party investment.

The foundation was established through the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 to assist the Department of Energy to advance its mission of addressing the nation’s energy and environmental challenges through science and technology solutions.

Stockburger, a Kent State University graduate, was named in March as co-chair of the National Coalition of Clean Energy Incubators. The coalition represents the interests of energy startup businesses.