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James P. Danly

Adjunct Professor of Law
Commissioner, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

James Danly was confirmed as a commissioner at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in March 2020. He served as FERC chairman from Nov. 5, 2020, to Jan. 21, 2021.

Danly had previously formerly served as general counsel to FERC. Prior to joining the FERC staff, he was a member of the energy regulation and litigation group at Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom.

After earning his law degree, Danly was a law clerk to Judge Danny Boggs at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. He has also served as managing director of the Institute for the Study of War, a military think tank in Washington, D.C., and was an International Affairs Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Danly is a former U.S. Army officer who served two tours in Iraq, first with an infantry company in Baghdad and then on staff at Multi-National Force—Iraq, receiving a Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

He teaches a short course, National Environmental Policy Act: Compliance and Litigation