Christopher Smith
Ford
Chief Government Affairs Officer
Christopher Smith was named Ford’s chief government affairs officer in March 2022. He leads a global team that is enhancing the company’s expertise and influence in legislation and policy vital to the Ford+ plan for growth and value creation. Policy priorities include areas such as connectivity, electric vehicles and digital services, and are intended to benefit customers, society and the environment, among other stakeholders. For four years prior to Ford, Smith was senior vice president, Policy, Government and Public Affairs at Cheniere Energy, the world’s second-largest liquefied natural gas operator. In that role, Smith led the incorporation of climate principles into Cheniere’s business model and helped modernize related federal regulations. Smith served in the U.S. Department of Energy during the Obama Administration as assistant secretary for fossil energy. Earlier in his career, Smith held managerial and analytical positions at Chevron and analytical roles at Citibank and JPMorgan in New York City and London. Smith earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering management and mechanical engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, beginning his career as an officer in the U.S. Army. He has a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Cambridge and a degree in applied mathematics from American Public University.
