Robert F. Cekuta

The Energy Resources Bureau's Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and working to ensure U.S. global energy security, Bob Cekuta also has direct oversight over the Bureau's work on transparency and access to energy. Bob comes to the Bureau having most recently been Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy, Sanctions, and Commodities in the State Department's Bureau for Energy and Business Affairs.

Recent overseas assignments include Tokyo (2007 - 2009) and Berlin (2003 - 2007) where he led the USG's engagement on the full range of economic issues with two of the world's top economies. Bob's work as Economic Minister Counselor in Germany included counter-terrorism and efforts to combat international criminal activities. He was also Senior Advisor for Food Security in the State Department's Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs and Senior Deputy Coordinating Director at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan for all development and economic affairs. Having been assigned overseas in Albania, Austria, Iraq, South Africa, and Yemen, Bob has also worked in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (1999 - 2000). He has held positions in Washington at the State Department responsible for energy, trade, and economic development, including Director for Economic Policy Analysis and Public Diplomacy, Special Negotiator for Biotechnology, and Director of the Iraq Economic Task Force.

Bob is a graduate of Georgetown University and holds Masters Degrees from the Thunderbird School of Global Management and the National War College