Charles McConnell, who has led the US Department of Energy’s fossil fuels operations for the past year, announced he will resign effective Feb. 1. The US Senate confirmed his appointment as assistant secretary for fossil energy on Apr. 5, 2012.

US Sec. of Energy Steven Chu applauded McConnell’s work on carbon capture and storage, and his efforts to broaden the focus of DOE’s oil and gas technology programs. “He helped bring a sense of urgency and adopted some best practices from the private sector to help further the agency’s mission,” Chu said.

Before joining DOE, McConnell was vice-president of carbon management at Battelle Energy Technology. He also spent 31 years with Praxair Inc. in various positions in the US and Asia, including global vice-president

Christopher A. Smith, deputy assistant secretary for oil and natural gas in DOE’s Fossil Energy Office, will become principal deputy assistant secretary and acting assistant secretary upon McConnell’s departure.

Contact Nick Snow at nicks@pennwell.com.