John J. Easton, Jr. was elected Vice President of International Programs on January 12, 1996, by Edison Electric Institute’s (EEI) Board of Directors. The International Programs division was created to oversee international member development and programs to benefit domestic members in international business. Mr. Easton joined EEI on April 1, 1994, as Senior International Advisor. Prior to that, he had been engaged in international energy consulting, including assignments for EEI and the U.S. Agency for International Development.
From 1989 to 1993, Mr. Easton served in three Presidentially-appointed positions at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). He was nominated by the President on July 2, 1992, to be Assistant Secretary for Domestic and International Energy Policy, and confirmed by the Senate on August 11, 1992. He served as the principal advisor to the Secretary of Energy on the Department's overall policy direction and planning strategy.
Prior to this, Mr. Easton served as General Counsel at DOE from September 26, 1991, providing diverse legal services to the Secretary of Energy and the Department. Previously, Mr. Easton served as Assistant Secretary for International Affairs and Energy Emergencies at DOE. In that position, he directed DOE's relationship with foreign governments and international energy organizations.
From 1987 to 1989, Mr. Easton practiced private law with the Burlington, Vermont law firm of Miller, Eggleston and Rosenberg, Ltd. Before that, he was Vice President of Syn-Cronamics, Inc., a New Jersey-based international consulting firm. Mr. Easton was twice elected Attorney General of Vermont and served in that position from 1981 to 1985. In 1984 he was the Republican nominee for Governor.
Prior to his election as Attorney General, Mr. Easton served for two years as Director of the Division of Rate Setting for the Agency of Human Services. From 1975 to 1978, Mr. Easton was Assistant Attorney General and Chief of Consumer Protection. Five years prior to this position, he was in private law practice in Stowe and Montpelier, Vermont.
Mr. Easton was educated in elementary schools in Virginia, Georgia, and French Morocco, and high schools in Nebraska and California. He attended the University of Colorado (BS, Accounting, 1964), and Georgetown University Law Center (JD, 1970). Mr. Easton served in the U.S. Air Force from 1964-1968, resigning with the rank of Captain.
Mr. Easton has held a variety of leadership positions in the American Bar Association and the Vermont Bar Association. He also served on the boards of several Vermont organizations. Mr. Easton and his wife Donna currently reside in Baltimore, Maryland.