Brian C. Griffin
Encyclopedia
Brian C. Griffin is an American businessman from the Oklahoma
who currently serves as the chairman of the board of directors
for Clean Energy Systems, a private Rancho Cordova, California
based energy technology innovations firm.
Griffin had previously served as the Oklahoma Secretary of the Environment
under former Governor of Oklahoma
Frank Keating
. Griffin served as Environment Secretary from 1997 to 2003.
in 1974 and was selected as a Rhodes Scholar. As a Rhodes Scholar, he attended Oxford University where he received his British law degree. He also holds an American Juris Doctorate degree. Griffin bagan his law practice in tax law
as well as oil and gas law. Governor of Oklahoma
George Nigh
appointed Griffin to serve as Oklahoma's representative on the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission. In 1986, he was the Republican
nominee for Attorney General of Oklahoma
. He lost that election to Democratic
nominee Robert Harlan Henry
.
Griffin served in the George H. W. Bush administration as a Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the United States Department of Justice Tax Division
. In 1992, he was appointed to chair the Administrative Conference of the United States
. While with the Department of Justice, some of Griffin's duties included working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
After leaving the federal government, Griffin founded The Griffin Companies, a real estate development holding company, which he served as president of until 1997.
, Governor of Oklahoma
Frank Keating
appointed Griffin to serve as his second Secretary of the Environment. Griffin would remain in that position until the end of Governor Keating's term as Governor in 2003.
As Environmental Secretary, Griffin oversaw the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality
, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board
, and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
.
based energy technology innovations firm. Griffin would later be elected chair of the board of directors of that firm, a post he currently holds.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
who currently serves as the chairman of the board of directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
for Clean Energy Systems, a private Rancho Cordova, California
Rancho Cordova, California
Rancho Cordova is a city in Sacramento County, California, USA, that incorporated in 2003. It is part of the Sacramento Metropolitan Area. The population was 64,776 at the 2010 census. Rancho Cordova is the Sacramento area's largest employment sub-center, with a daily influx of over 45,000...
based energy technology innovations firm.
Griffin had previously served as the Oklahoma Secretary of the Environment
Oklahoma Secretary of the Environment
The Oklahoma Secretary of the Environment is a member of the Oklahoma Governor's Cabinet. The Secretary is appointed by the Governor, with the consent of the Oklahoma Senate, to serve at the pleasure of the Governor...
under former Governor of Oklahoma
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...
Frank Keating
Frank Keating
Francis Anthony "Frank" Keating is an American politician from Oklahoma. Keating served as the 25th Governor of Oklahoma. His first term began in 1995 and ended in 1999...
. Griffin served as Environment Secretary from 1997 to 2003.
Education and early career
Griffin received his undergraduate degree from Harvard UniversityHarvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1974 and was selected as a Rhodes Scholar. As a Rhodes Scholar, he attended Oxford University where he received his British law degree. He also holds an American Juris Doctorate degree. Griffin bagan his law practice in tax law
Tax law
Tax law is the codified system of laws that describes government levies on economic transactions, commonly called taxes.-Major issues:Primary taxation issues facing the governments world over include;* taxes on income and wealth...
as well as oil and gas law. Governor of Oklahoma
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...
George Nigh
George Nigh
George Patterson Nigh , is a popular civic leader in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Nigh served as the 17th and the 22nd Governor of Oklahoma. He was the first Oklahoma Governor to be re-elected and the first to win all 77 counties in the state...
appointed Griffin to serve as Oklahoma's representative on the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission. In 1986, he was the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nominee for Attorney General of Oklahoma
Attorney General of Oklahoma
The Attorney General of Oklahoma is the State Attorney General for the state of Oklahoma. The Attorney General serves as the chief legal and law enforcement officer of the State of Oklahoma. The Attorney General is responsible for providing legal advise to the various agencies and departments of...
. He lost that election to Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
nominee Robert Harlan Henry
Robert Harlan Henry
See also Robert Henry Robert Harlan Henry is a former U.S. judge and politician from Oklahoma, and President of Oklahoma City University since July, 2010.-Biography:...
.
Griffin served in the George H. W. Bush administration as a Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the United States Department of Justice Tax Division
United States Department of Justice Tax Division
The United States Department of Justice Tax Division is responsible for the prosecution of both civil and criminal cases arising under the Internal Revenue Code and other tax laws of the United States...
. In 1992, he was appointed to chair the Administrative Conference of the United States
Administrative Conference of the United States
The Administrative Conference of the United States is an independent agency of the United States government established by the Administrative Conference Act of 1964. It is also considered to be a federal advisory committee...
. While with the Department of Justice, some of Griffin's duties included working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
After leaving the federal government, Griffin founded The Griffin Companies, a real estate development holding company, which he served as president of until 1997.
Secretary of the Environment
In 1997, following the resignation of Gary SherrerGary Sherrer
Gary Sherrer is an American Democratic politician from Oklahoma. Sherrer serves as Oklahoma Secretary of the Environment under Republican Governor Mary Fallin...
, Governor of Oklahoma
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...
Frank Keating
Frank Keating
Francis Anthony "Frank" Keating is an American politician from Oklahoma. Keating served as the 25th Governor of Oklahoma. His first term began in 1995 and ended in 1999...
appointed Griffin to serve as his second Secretary of the Environment. Griffin would remain in that position until the end of Governor Keating's term as Governor in 2003.
As Environmental Secretary, Griffin oversaw the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality
Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality
The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality is a department of the government of Oklahoma under the Governor of Oklahoma. It is responsible for protecting human health and for safeguarding the natural environment: air, water, and land. DEQ is chiefly responsible for the environmental policy...
, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board
Oklahoma Water Resources Board
The Oklahoma Water Resources Board is an agency in the government of Oklahoma under the Governor of Oklahoma. OWRB is responsible for managing and protection the water resources of Oklahoma as well as for planning for the state's long-range water needs. The Board is composed of nine members...
, and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is an agency of the state of Oklahoma responsible for managing and protecting Oklahoma's wildlife population and their habitats. The Department is under the control of the Wildlife Conservation Commission, an 8-member board appointed by the Governor...
.
Return to Private Sector
In January 2004, Griffin was appointed the President and member of the Board for Clean Energy Systems, a private Rancho Cordova, CaliforniaRancho Cordova, California
Rancho Cordova is a city in Sacramento County, California, USA, that incorporated in 2003. It is part of the Sacramento Metropolitan Area. The population was 64,776 at the 2010 census. Rancho Cordova is the Sacramento area's largest employment sub-center, with a daily influx of over 45,000...
based energy technology innovations firm. Griffin would later be elected chair of the board of directors of that firm, a post he currently holds.