About FERC 
Office of Energy Projects
Robert J. Cupina,
Principal Deputy Director
Robert Cupina is the Principal Deputy Director of FERC's Office of Energy Projects. That Office is responsible for processing applications for the construction and operation of natural gas pipeline and storage facilities for interstate and foreign commerce, including liquefied natural gas (LNG), and licenses for non-federal hydroelectric projects, as well as managing the license compliance and dam safety programs. In addition, the Office is implementing the supplemental siting authority for interstate electric transmission facilities granted by EPAct 2005.
Previously, he was the Director of the Division of Tariffs and Rates - Central in the FERC's Office of Markets, Tariffs and Rates. That Division was responsible for analyzing filings for rates and services by electric utilities for the transmission of electric energy and by natural gas pipeline companies for the transportation of natural gas. The Central Region included the midwestern U.S. and the offshore Gulf of Mexico.
Prior to being named to that position in February 2000, Mr. Cupina was the Deputy Director of the Office of Pipeline Regulation at the FERC for ten years. Between 1973 and 1988 he held various positions in the areas of producer and pipeline regulation with FERC and its predecessor agency, the Federal Power Commission.
In the private sector, Mr. Cupina worked for the International Salt Company as a Mining Engineer Trainee from 1970 to 1972. He majored in Petroleum Engineering at Penn State, has a Bachelor's in Technology Management from the University of Maryland and a Master's in Public Administration from George Mason University. He is married and has two grown children and two grandsons.
