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Louie Salazar works as Director of External Affairs for ConocoPhillips, where he has been employed for the past 13 years. 

His current responsibilities include strategy development for outreach and education with a strong focus on creating and building relationships with community leaders, academia, and regulatory agencies. 

What Salazar likes most about his job is that every day is different which creates new challenges to help solve and new opportunities to help bring to fruition.

“Prior to joining ConocoPhillips in late 2010, I worked in public education,” said Salazar.

His tenure in education included roles as a middle school science teacher, high school athletic director and high school principal.

“Leaving education created an amazing opportunity in the oil and gas industry for me,” said Salazar. “My education career really provided a strong foundation for all the roles I have served in with ConocoPhillips. The transfer of skills and experience was directly relevant.”  

Salazar serves as co-chair for NMOGA’s communications and public affairs committee and previously served as co-chair for NMOGA’s tribal affairs committee.

Outside of work, Louie spends his spare time with family and friends.

“For my wife Jacqueline and I, family is our priority,” said Salazar. “I am a proud father of five beautiful children ranging in ages 5-22.” 

Salazar said he also enjoys playing in his neighborhood pickleball league and exercising.

“I exercise mainly so I can enjoy the amazing New Mexican cuisine,” he said.

Salazar is proud to work in the industry alongside several other family members, two of which work for frac service companies in the Permian Basin.

Women who work in the Oil and Gas Industry

By Bernadette Granger, Flogistix Director of Community and Public Affairs

In celebration of Women’s History Month, Flogistix recognizes Cayden O’Dell as the first female mechanic in the history of the company.  

NMOGA’s Brighter Future Fund grant application process is now open and will focus on economic opportunities.

Bret Baier & Amy Munneke, Fox News | February 16th, 2023President Joe Biden announced the first major release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) on Nov. 23, 2021. He said the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic was increasing demand for gasoline as the world reopened and supply wasn’t keeping up. The weekly average price for regular gasoline was $3.40 per gallon – more than a dollar increase from the same time period in 2020.

Matthew Daly, AP News | February 9th, 2023WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden sparked a firestorm in energy circles when he said in Tuesday’s State of the Union address that the United States will need oil “for at least another decade."