OGOS Energy Advisory Board
Lt. General Joe N. Ballard, U.S. Army (Ret.) - Chair, OGOS Advisory Board
General Ballard is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Ravens Group, an international business services corporation.
LTG Ballard’s last military assignment was as the 49th Chief of Engineers and Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He managed all missions including the nation’s vast civil works program, environmental restoration and construction on military installations, with a budget totaling more than $16 billion. Prior to that, LTG Ballard was the Chief of Staff for the United States Army Training and Doctrine, responsible for headquarters and installation operations, training and budget management for over 20 major training and operational bases throughout the U.S.
Ballard, a registered professional engineer in civil engineering, graduated from Southern University in Louisiana with a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, earned a Master’s Degree in Engineering Management from the University of Missouri, and later graduated from the Army Command and General Staff College and from the Army War College.
Vice Admiral D.C. Curtis, U.S. Navy (Ret.) - Member, OGOS Advisory Board
Admiral D.C. Curtis is Vice President of Intelligence, Cybersecurity Services and Special Programs at SBG Technology Solutions.
Vice Admiral Curtis served as commander of Naval Surface Forces for the United States Navy during a 35 year military career. He was responsible for manning, equipping, training and maintaining more than 160 surface force ships based around the world. Curtis was leader for more than 50 major commands and support units of the force, including 65,000 personnel. He remains a member of the American Society of Naval Engineers and the US Navy Institute.
Curtis graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and the National Defense University. He also holds an MS in Administration from Central Michigan University.
Westley Sholes - Member, OGOS Advisory Board
Westley Sholes, one of the earliest supporters of OGOS Energy, has over thirty five years of executive level experience with an emphasis on strategic planning and overall management of health care systems. He is a former Deputy Director, Administrative Services of the Los Angeles County Department of Health. His extensive leadership experiences include service as Vice President and Board member of the National Organization of Black County Officials (NOBCO). Wes is currently principal of Sholes and Associates where he provides management consulting in the areas of strategic planning, business development and executive training. Sholes earned his BS from Xavier University of Louisiana, followed by an MPA at the University of Southern California.
Hon. Kurt L. Schmoke - Member, OGOS Advisory Board
During 2014, the Honorable Kurt L. Schmoke assumed his current position as President of the University of Baltimore. He was previously Vice President, General Counsel and acting Provost of Howard University in Washington, D.C. As a three-term mayor (1987-1999) of the city of Baltimore, Maryland, Schmoke made history as a trail-blazing elected political leader and was ultimately responsible for managing municipal, operating and special fund budgets exceeding $2 billion.
Widely respected for his legal and business acumen, Schmoke serves on several Boards of Directors including the Carnegie Corporation of New York, McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and Legg Mason Global Asset Management.
Schmoke graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in history from Yale University, attended the University of Oxford in England as a Rhodes Scholar, and earned his Law Degree from Harvard University.
Beverly J. Burke - Member, OGOS Advisory Board
Beverly J. Burke is a Member of OGOS Energy LLC, as well as a Member of the OGOS Advisory Board. Ms. Burke served as Vice President and General Counsel of WGL Holdings, Inc. for 10 years before her retirement at the end of 2011. In total, Ms. Burke has over 20 years of energy industry experience, addressing legal, regulatory and business issues pertaining to the regulated local distribution company activities of WGL as well as the Holding Company’s growth and expansion into non-regulated energy services including gas and electricity marketing, renewable energy generation, mid-stream investments and energy asset management.
For 10 years prior to joining Washington Gas, Ms. Burke had progressive responsibility within the legal office of the District of Columbia government, including litigation and trials, appellate advocacy, Special Counsel and leader of the Criminal Division.
Beverly Burke earned her BA degree from Brown University and her JD from George Washington University Law School.
Rose McKinney-James - Member, OGOS Advisory Board
Rose McKinney-James provides real time consulting, strategic planning guidance and public policy advocacy to businesses engaged in energy intensive endeavors and/or environmental matters. She is Managing Principal of Energy Works Consulting and McKinney-James & Associates. Prior to establishing her own firm, Rose served as President of Brown & Partners, President of Government Affairs for Faiss-Foley-Merica, and CEO of the Corporation for Solar Technology and Renewable Resources (CSTRR). As a registered lobbyist with the Nevada State Legislature, Rose currently represents a range of public and private entities with interests in regulatory and energy policy.
Rose serves as a member of the Board of Directors of MGM Resorts International, MGM Detroit, and Employers Holdings Inc. In addition, Ms. James serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Toyota Financial Savings Bank, VOTE Solar, and the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE). She is the Board Chair for Nevada Partners, a nationally recognized workforce development agency. Rose is a U.S. Department of Energy C3E (Clean Energy Education & Empowerment) Ambassador and a member of the Las Vegas Chapter of the International Women’s Forum.
As a candidate for Lieutenant Governor, Rose McKinney-James was the first African-American to win a statewide primary in the state of Nevada. She served as a member of the Obama-Biden Transition Team with responsibility for the US Department of Energy (DOE), and as Team Lead for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). She is a former Commissioner with the Nevada Public Service Commission and former Director of the Nevada Department of Business and Industry.
Rose is a graduate of Antioch School of Law in Washington D.C., and earned her undergraduate degree from Olivet College, in Michigan.