Chairman Victor G. Carrillo
Biography
A native of Abilene, Texas, Victor Carrillo joined the Texas Railroad Commission in February 2003 when Governor Rick Perry appointed him to fill the unexpired term of Tony Garza who became U.S. Ambassador to Mexico. Carrillo currently serves as Chairman of the agency. He was also Chairman of the Governor’s Texas Energy Planning Council that created a comprehensive energy plan for the State of Texas (View an electronic version of the Texas Energy Plan).
IIn November 2004, Chairman Carrillo received almost four million votes and won statewide election for Railroad Commissioner and took office for a six-year term beginning in January 2005. (View highlights from swearing in ceremonies)
Chairman Carrillo also serves on a variety of boards such as:
- Chairman of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Advisory Committee to the U.S. Secretary of the Interior, advising the Secretary on all aspects of leasing, exploration, development and protection of OCS lands.
- Former Vice Chairman of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC) -- a national compact of oil and gas producing states whose mission is to promote the efficient recovery of domestic oil and natural gas resources while protecting health, safety and the environment. He is Governor Perry's official representative to the IOGCC.
- America's Energy Coast (AEC) Honorary Leadership Council – comprised of leaders who educate the public about the necessity of sustainable energy production in a sound environmental landscape throughout the Gulf Coast region of the four energy-producing states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
- Member, Committee on Gas, of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC). NARUC is a national association representing the public utility commissioners who regulate essential utility services, such as electricity, gas, telecommunications, water, and transportation, throughout the country.
- Board of Advisors of the Texas Journal of Oil, Gas & Energy Law at the University of Texas School of Law.
Much of Carrillo’s education and professional experience relate to oil and gas exploration and production. He has a B.S. degree in geology from Hardin-Simmons University and a M.S. degree in geology from Baylor University. In 1988, he joined Amoco Production Company in Houston as a petroleum geophysicist where he gained experience in the full spectrum of oil and gas exploration and production activities.
From 1990-1994, while working professionally for Amoco by day, Victor attended the University of Houston Law Center at night, earning his law degree in 1994 with an emphasis in environmental and oil and gas law. From 1994-96, Victor worked as an energy attorney at the General Land Office where he advised the land commissioner on oil and gas, environmental, and general government issues.
In 1996, Victor and his family returned to Abilene, his hometown, where he served as assistant city attorney and later taught political science and legal studies at Hardin-Simmons University, his alma mater. He ran for and won election to the Abilene City Council, where he served until he was appointed as Taylor County Judge. In November of 2002, he was elected to a four-year term as Taylor County Judge, the position he held when the governor appointed him to the Texas Railroad Commission.
The Abilene Young Lawyers’ Association honored Victor as the Young Lawyer of the Year in 2001. In 2003, Victor was awarded the first Young Alumni of the Year award from Hardin-Simmons University. In May 2006, Victor was awarded an honorary doctorate degree from Hardin-Simmons University.
Victor and his wife, Joy, have been married 24 years. They are blessed with three daughters. The family attends Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Austin.
Chairman Carrillo is the son of a Mexican immigrant, the first in his family to have gone to college, and the highest-ranking elected Hispanic official in Texas. Hispanic Business Magazine has named Carrillo to its list of the 100 Most Influential Hispanics in the United States.