Robert J. (Rob) Cupina has joined Brown, Williams, Moorhead & Quinn, Inc. after a distinguished 36-year career at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Federal Power Commission.  

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Mr. Cupina was the Principal Deputy Director of the Office of Energy Projects from 2001 to 2009.  He directed a staff of 330 engineers and physical scientists 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 and the supplemental siting authority for interstate electric transmission facilities under EPAct 2005.   Mr. Cupina's many major energy infrastructure accomplishments include: issuing an open season rule as a prerequisite to an Alaska natural gas pipeline, significant expansion of LNG terminals and the interstate pipeline grid, rules for electric transmission siting and creation of the infrastructure policy group and the hydrokinetics program.

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Mr. Cupina was the Director of the Division of Tariffs and Rates - Central in the Office of Markets, Tariffs and Rates in 2000 to 2001.  He directed a staff of 75 economists, accountants and engineers 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. His  major concentration at the time was organizing a new Office and implementing Order No. 2000 to establish regional transmission organizations (RTOs) and Independent System Operators (ISOs).

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Mr. Cupina also served as the Deputy Director of the Office of Pipeline Regulation from 1989 to 1999, where he directed a staff of 170 regulatory professionals responsible for siting natural gas pipeline, LNG and storage infrastructure and analyzing the operators' rates and terms and conditions of service. His  major accomplishments include pipeline expansions to California and the Northeast and issuing and implementing Order No. 636 to restructure the gas industry.

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Mr. Cupina is thoroughly familiar with the Commission's licensing and certification process improvements embodied in the Integrated Licensing Process (ILP) for hydroelectric projects and the Pre-Filing Process (PF) for natural gas and electric transmission projects. They are based on three essential components: early identification and resolution of issues by stakeholders, coincident rather than sequential action by the myriad agencies involved using a single administrative record, and meeting specific, predictable milestones and overall processing timeframes.  Compared to the traditional approaches, these processes place a premium on flexibility and collaboration.  Mr. Cupina has been a tireless advocate for expediting the process and enhancing the quality of deliverables throughout his career.

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Mr. Cupina educational background includes:

• MPA Public Management, George Mason University

• BS Technology Management, University of Maryland

• SMG, Harvard Kennedy School of Government

• Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, Pennsylvania State University