Michael L. Williams was initially appointed to the Texas Railroad Commission by former Governor George W. Bush in December 1998 to a vacant seat. Williams chaired the Commission from July 2007 to February 2009 and previously served as chair from September 1999 to September 2003. He was most recently elected statewide in November 2008, when Texas voters reaffirmed their support by electing him to an additional six-year term expiring in the year 2014. He is the first African American in Texas history to hold an executive statewide elected post.
He chairs the Governor's Clean Coal Technology Council and the Governor's Competitiveness Council, and represents the Governor and the Railroad Commission of Texas on the Southern States Energy Board and the Interstate Mining Compact Commission. Williams also is an appointee on the National Coal Council, an advisory board to the U.S. Secretary of Energy. Williams also serves as the Railroad Commission's "point person" for the agency's regulatory reform and technology modernization efforts.
An advocate of alternative energy, Williams' "Breathe Easy" initiative champions the conversion of Texas public and private fleets, especially school buses, from diesel and gasoline to environmentally cleaner, cheaper and domestically produced natural gas and propane.
The son of public school teachers and the husband of a mechanical engineer, Williams understands the importance of education as a foundation for our future. He is the creator and co-sponsor of the "Williams Future Innovators", a summer camp for 6th through 12th graders to inspire the next generation of scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians. Williams was an adjunct professor at Texas Southern University in the School of Public Affairs and Texas Wesleyan School of Law. He is a proud alumnus of the University of Southern California, from which he obtained a bachelor's, a master's and a law degree.
He is the immediate past Honorary State Chairman of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Texas. He also narrates stories for children of all ages, including the visually impaired and those with special needs. His narrations have been featured on the Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind. Williams initiated the Texas response against the tragedy in Darfur. He also has served in a volunteer capacity as the General Counsel of the Republican Party of Texas, the chairman of the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission, on the Board of Directors of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, the Texas Public Policy Foundation and Our Mother of Mercy Catholic School.
Previously, Williams served as general counsel to a Texas high-tech corporation ('97-'99) and "of Counsel" with the law firm of Haynes and Boone, L.L.P. ('93-'96)
In 1990, President George H. W. Bush appointed Williams to be Assistant Secretary of Education for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education, a position once held by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. President George H. W. Bush previously appointed Williams as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Law Enforcement at the U.S. Department of the Treasury ('89-'90). In that capacity, he had policy oversight responsibility for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Customs Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.
Williams also served in the Department of Justice as Special Assistant to Attorney General Richard Thornburgh ('88-'89). In 1988, he was awarded the Attorney General's "Special Achievement Award" for the conviction of six Ku Klux Klan members. Williams served as a prosecutor in the Reagan Justice department ('84-'88). Previously, he was an assistant district attorney in his hometown of Midland, Texas.
He is a member of Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Arlington, Texas. He and his best friend, Donna, celebrate 23 years of marriage.
Prior to his appointment to the Railroad Commission of Texas, Williams served as general counsel to a Texas-based high-tech corporation. He also served in a volunteer capacity as the general counsel of the Republican Party of Texas, the chairman of the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission and on the Board of Directors of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, the Texas Public Policy Foundation and Our Mother of Mercy Catholic School.
In 1990, President George H. W. Bush appointed Williams to be Assistant Secretary of Education for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education.
Previously, Williams served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Law Enforcement at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. In that capacity, he had policy oversight responsibility for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Customs Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (Aug '89 - Jun '90).
He also served as Special Assistant to Attorney General Richard Thornburgh at the U.S. Department of Justice (Jan '88 - Jun '89). In 1988, former U.S. Attorney General Ed Meese awarded Williams the Attorney General's "Special Achievement Award" for the conviction of six Ku Klux Klan members on federal weapons charges. He is a former federal prosecutor from 1984-1988 and a former assistant district attorney in his hometown of Midland, Texas.
The son of public school teachers, Williams earned a bachelor's, master's and law degree from the University of Southern California.
