Sarah M. Blanford serves as a Deputy Program Director for USEA's Energy Utility Partnership Program, which promotes best practices, regulatory reform and private sector solutions to solving energy problems in developing countries. Ms. Blanford has worked at USEA since 2001, bringing together stakeholders to address critical issues in the areas of energy markets, cross-border electricity trade, and renewable energy integration. Since 2005, her focus has been on USAID-funded assistance projects for South Asian utilities, regulatory and government agencies. She is currently involved in several USAID-funded projects, including the South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy Integration, the U.S.-Asia Gas Partnership, the South Asia Regional Energy Hub, and the USEA’s bilateral program with Kenya’s power sector. Prior to her current work, Ms. Blanford organized USEA’s activities with the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Trade & Development Agency, the International Energy Agency, and the World Energy Council.

During her tenure, Ms. Blanford has contributed her expertise in energy sector reform to the Energy Partnership Program and other USEA activities.

Ms. Blanford holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with a certification in Nonprofit Management, and Bachelor of Science from the College of Wooster.