Topic: "Oil and Gas Regulations, Opportunities and Challenges"

Chairman David Porter was elected statewide by the people of Texas in November 2010 to serve a six-year term as Railroad Commissioner and was unanimously elected by his fellow commissioners to serve as Chairman in June 2015. Chairman Porter has a strong and proven record of principle-driven free market, conservative leadership for Texas.

Since taking office, Chairman Porter has been appointed to the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission as the Official Representative of Texas and currently serves as Vice Chairman of the organization.  He is an advisory board member for the Texas Journal of Oil, Gas, and Energy Law. He also served as the Official Representative on the Interstate Mining Compact Commission from 2011 to 2014.

Upon taking office in 2011, Porter created the Eagle Ford Shale Task Force, the first of its kind at the Texas Railroad Commission, to establish a forum that brings the community together to foster a productive and forward-looking dialogue regarding drilling activities in the Eagle Ford Shale.  The Task Force is comprised of local community leaders, elected officials, industry representatives, environmental groups, and landowners.  The goal of the group is to open the lines of communication between all parties involved, establish recommendations for developing the Eagle Ford Shale, and promote economic benefits locally and statewide.  

In 2013, Porter launched his Texas Natural Gas Initiative: a series of statewide events that bring stakeholders together to discuss business opportunities, challenges and regulatory barriers and solutions for natural gas conversion and infrastructure – focusing largely on the transportation and exploration and production sectors.

In recognition of his foresight and leadership, Porter was named “Man of the Year” by The Oil & Gas Year, Eagle Ford, Texas 2013. He has also been recognized by Shale Oil & Gas Business Magazine and Unconventional Oil & Gas Magazine for his proactive efforts to implement policies that allow industry to safely, efficiently, and economically produce the energy that is needed to support Texans and the Texas economy.

Before taking office, Porter built a successful small business around his CPA practice in Midland, Texas, providing accounting and tax services to oil and gas producers, royalty owners, oil field service companies, and other small businesses and individuals. 

Porter was born in Fort Lewis, Washington in 1956 while his father was serving in the US Army.  He graduated magna cum laude from Harding University in 1977 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, and passed the CPA exam later that year.  He became a Texas CPA in 1981, the same year he moved to Midland. 

David met his wife, Cheryl, while attending Harding University, and they were married in 1979.  They are the proud parents of one daughter and grandparents of three grandchildren.

Picture and Bio provided by http://www.rrc.state.tx.us/about-us/commissioners/porter/.