Abigail Anthony was appointed by Governor Gina Raimondo to the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission in 2017. Commissioner Anthony is currently the Chair of the Commission on Energy Resources and the Environment of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners and the President of the Board of the New England Utility Cybersecurity Integration Collaborative. Previously, Commissioner Anthony was the director of Acadia Center’s Grid Modernization and Utility Reform Initiative, and the organization’s Rhode Island director.  During her time as director of Acadia Center, she was appointed by Governors Carcieri and Chafee to the Rhode Island Energy Efficiency and Resource Management Council, where she served from 2010 to 2017 overseeing the implementation of the state’s energy efficiency programs and policies.

Commissioner Anthony holds a PhD in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics from the University of Rhode Island. She received her MA and BA in economics from the University of Montana.

Ben Richardson is the Director of the Energy Portfolio at the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). Ben and his team are responsible for delivering strategic energy and materials capabilities to the military by accelerating the adoption of commercial technology and strengthening the national security innovation base. The Energy Portfolio is focused on two primary lines of effort: Installation Resilience and Operational Energy.  

Prior to joining DIU, Ben served in various senior positions in the Pentagon to include the Director of Critical Technology Protection in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and the Director of Global Markets and Investments in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics. 

Outside of his government experience, Ben has also been a consultant managing regulatory and financial risk for private equity clients. Ben started his career as an intelligence officer in the United States Marine Corps, to include multiple overseas tours. He continues to serve as a Lieutenant Colonel in the reserves where he has held multiple positions with the intelligence community.