Before founding PFC Energy in 1984, Mr. West served in the Reagan Administration as Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Policy, Budget and Administration (1981-83), with responsibility for U.S. offshore oil policy. Between 1977 and 1980, he was a First Vice President of Blyth, Eastman, Dillon & Co., Inc., an investment banking firm. Prior to that, he served in the Ford Administration as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Economic Affairs (1976-77) and on the White House Staff (1974-76). Mr. West has served on many government Boards and commissions in several administrations. In 2003 and again in 2008 he was nominated by the President to be a Director of the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), and was confirmed by the Senate. In 2004 he was elected Chairman of the USIP Board. Mr. West served as Vice Chairman of the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board, and also served as a trustee of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Liability Fund, as a member of the Chief of Naval Operations Executive Panel, the Industry Policy Advisory Committee on Multilateral Trade Negotiations of the U.S. Trade Representative, and on the National Advisory Committee on Handicapped Children. Mr. West was appointed by the President to the National Advisory Committee on Oceans and Atmosphere in 1977.