Fred Beach

Director, Energy and Earth Resources Graduate Program, Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin

Fred Beach is the director of the Energy and Earth Resources Graduate Program in the Jackson School of Geosciences at The University of Texas at Austin (UT). Dr. Beach conducts research related to the interplay between the development of energy policy, environmental policy and technology policy at UT. Dr. Beach also teaches a wide range of classes on energy technology policy, international energy policy and energy economics in the Cockrell School of Engineering, the LBJ School of Public Policy, the McCombs School of Business and the Jackson School of Geosciences.

Prior to joining UT Austin, Dr. Beach served for 25 years in the United States Navy where he was a qualified submariner, naval aviator, surface warfare officer and acquisition professional. Since retiring in 2003, he has also served as a consultant on defense-related topics for the U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group, Missile Test and Readiness Equipment, Naval Research Advisory Committee, Naval Research Laboratory, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the Defense Science Board.

Dr. Beach holds a PhD from UT Austin’s LBJ School of Public Policy, an MS in physics from the Naval Postgraduate School and a BS in chemistry with a minor in nuclear engineering from the University of Oklahoma. He is also a graduate of the Defense Acquisition University and a certified level III U.S. Department of Defense acquisition professional and program manager.