Bob McNally (Part 2)
Founder & President, Rapidan Energy Group
This episode premieres Thursday, June 11, 2026 at 7:00pm ET
There are these deeply embedded assumptions about the way the world works that aren't even questioned, much less analyzed — and the idea that the United States would protect the flow of energy from Hormuz was one of them.
Summary
Leadership Matters often touches on topics that are of importance to the news. However, for this week’s episode, I wanted to focus our time and attention on an issue of central concern to CEOs around the globe with one of the foremost experts on the subject.
Bob McNally is the founder and president of Rapidan Energy Group, as well as a friend of the show. We’ve had him on previously to discuss the contours of his career and philosophy on leadership, in a remarkable conversation you can find here. As the world today grapples with one of the largest energy disruptions in history, I wanted to bring Bob back on Leadership Matters to help our listeners understand the larger implications of what’s going on in the Persian Gulf.
From the fallacy of true energy independence to the need to brace ourselves for a world without energy “shock absorbers,” Bob offers some sobering advice. However, the insights he offers are of great significance to executives across a host of industries. They provide an initial roadmap for how we can navigate the challenges of today and build a sustainable, energy-abundant future.
Mentions & Resources in this Episode
Guest Bio
Robert (Bob) McNally is the founder and president of Rapidan Energy Group, a Washington- and Houston-based energy market, policy, and geopolitical consulting firm. Rapidan Energy Group provides actionable and differentiated data, analysis, and advice to senior risk-managers and decision-makers at financial firms and companies in the energy sector. Bob is the author of Crude Volatility: The History and the Future of Boom-Bust Oil Prices (Columbia University Press, 2017).
Bob’s experience extends from the financial industry to the White House. Mr. McNally started his professional career in 1991 as an oil market analyst and consultant with Energy Security Analysis, Inc. In 1994, he joined Tudor Investment Corporation and for twelve subsequent years analyzed energy markets, macroeconomic policy, and geopolitics for Tudor portfolio managers, earning promotion to Vice President and Managing Director. Mr. McNally served in the Peace Corps in Senegal from 1988-1990. From 2001 to 2003, Mr. McNally served as the top international and domestic energy adviser on the White House staff, holding the posts of Special Assistant to the President on the National Economic Council and, in 2003, Senior Director for International Energy on the National Security Council.
Mr. McNally earned his double major BA/BS in International Relations and Political Science from American University and his MA in International Economics and American Foreign Policy from Johns Hopkins Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).
He was co-chair for energy policy on the 2008 Romney Campaign, served on the Policy Advisory Committee for Senator Marco Rubio’s 2010 campaign, and regularly advises congressional and administration officials on energy policy and markets. Mr. McNally is a Member of the National Petroleum Council. Mr. McNally has testified to the House and Senate on energy markets and national security and speaks to professional conferences on energy markets, policy, and geopolitics. He has been published in Foreign Affairs (co-authored essay with Michael Levi, July/August 2011) and has been interviewed by CNN, The Economist, Fox Business, The Financial Times, The Washington Post, National Journal, Platts Energy Week TV, PBS’ Great Decisions in Foreign Policy series, Bloomberg News, Aviation Daily and other programs and journals.