Steven Burns is an energy and critical infrastructure security expert with more than two decades of experience spanning the US government and the private sector. He most recently served as director for energy security on the White House National Security Council staff, advising senior leaders on energy supply disruptions, allied support, and infrastructure resilience amid geopolitical crises. Prior to that, he was chief of energy and infrastructure at USAID’s Bureau for Europe and Eurasia, where he designed and led assistance programs focused on energy-sector cybersecurity, electricity and natural gas network planning, and utility disaster preparedness and recovery across priority partner countries. 

Earlier in his career, he advised electric utilities and multinational industrial companies on power asset development and procurement strategies, and authored technical work on power system and nuclear component operability. Across his career, he has managed large, multi-country portfolios and mobilized substantial investment toward secure, reliable infrastructure outcomes. Burns holds a PhD in engineering management from the George Washington University, an MS in mechanical engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and a BS from Carnegie Mellon University, and is a registered professional engineer.