David Austin Wright is an American businessman, politician, and energy policy advisor, and member of the

Nuclear Regulatory Commission The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is an independent agency of the United States government tasked with protecting public health and safety related to nuclear energy. Established by the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, the ...

for the remainder of a five-year term expiring on June 30, 2025 after being nominated by President

Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he served as the 45 ...

in May 2017 and again in January 2020 and confirmed by the United States Senate. On January 20, 2025, President Trump designated him as the NRC's Chairman.

Education

Wright was born in

Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte ( ) is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the county seat of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 United ...

. He graduated from

Irmo High School Irmo High School is a public high school in unincorporated area, unincorporated Lexington County, South Carolina, Lexington County, South Carolina, United States, - The school is not directly shown on the map, but comparing its location with th ...

in 1973. In 1977, he graduated from

Clemson University Clemson University () is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university near Clemson, South Carolina, United States. - The blue-shaded pattern denotes university property. This shows Clemson University is ''out ...

, where he received a B.A. in political science and communications and was a member of the cross country team.

Career

Wright served on the Irmo Town Council from 1983 to 1985 and was mayor of Irmo from 1985 to 1988. From 1988 to 1996, he served in the

South Carolina House of Representatives The South Carolina House of Representatives is the lower house of the South Carolina General Assembly. It consists of 124 representatives elected to two-year terms at the same time as U.S. congressional elections. Unlike many legislatures, seatin ...

, representing District 85. Wright was elected to the South Carolina Public Service Commission in March 2004, serving until June 2013. He chaired the commission beginning in July 2012. In 2011, he was elected president of the

National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) is the national association representing the U.S. state public service commissioners who regulate essential utility services, including energy, telecommunications, and water. F ...

. Wright is also the former president of the Southeastern Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, the former chairman of the Nuclear Waste Strategy Coalition, and a former member of the advisory board of the

Electric Power Research Institute EPRI, is an American independent, nonprofit organization that conducts research and development related to the generation, delivery, and use of electricity to help address challenges in the energy industry, including reliability, efficiency, affo ...

. Wright is the owner of Wright Directions LLC, a strategic consulting and communications business. He has owned and operated a number of retail, commercial, and professional services businesses. Wright also has a real estate license and is a licensed auctioneer in South Carolina.

Personal life

Wright is a

colon cancer Colorectal cancer (CRC), also known as bowel cancer, colon cancer, or rectal cancer, is the development of cancer from the colon or rectum (parts of the large intestine). Signs and symptoms may include blood in the stool, a change in bowel ...

survivor. He has four children. In 1996, he received South Carolina's highest citizen honor, the

Order of the Palmetto The Order of the Palmetto is the highest civilian honor awarded by the governor of South Carolina. It is awarded to South Carolinians who demonstrate extraordinary lifetime achievement, service and contributions of national or statewide significan ...

. In 2017, the ''

Charlotte Business Journal American City Business Journals, Inc. (ACBJ) is an American newspaper publisher based in Charlotte, North Carolina. ACBJ publishes ''The Business Journals'', which contains local business news for 44 markets in the United States with each market ...

'' named Wright its Lifetime Achievement winner in its annual Energy Leadership awards.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wright, David Austin Living people People from Irmo, South Carolina Clemson University alumni Members of the South Carolina House of Representatives First Trump administration personnel Year of birth missing (living people) Nuclear Regulatory Commission officials Biden administration personnel 20th-century members of the South Carolina General Assembly