Hispanic Heritage Month Spotlight

The Republican National Hispanic Assembly is proud to honor James Edward Campos, Director of the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity at the United States Department of Energy, as our honoree this National Hispanic Heritage Month.

James Edward Campos was nominated by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate on April 9, 2018, as the Director of the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity at the United States Department of Energy. As Director, Mr. Campos oversees the Office of Minority Economic Impact and the Office of Civil Rights and Diversity. He is tasked with helping to implement legislation and executive orders with an eye towards their effect on minorities and minority businesses, as well as ensuring that minorities are afforded an opportunity to fully participate in Department programs. Mr. Campos also serves as the Department of Energy’s Equal Employment Opportunity Director, which includes field sites across the United States.

The Office of Economic Impact & Diversity is uniquely positioned through its Congressional mandate to interact and work with all of the DOE’s 22 offices such as the offices of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, Fossil Energy, Electricity, Nuclear Energy, Technology Transfer, Environmental Management, and Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

Additionally, Mr. Campos established the Equity in Energy initiative to expand the participation of individuals in underserved communities, which includes minorities, women, veterans, and formerly incarcerated persons, in all the programs of the Department. The initiative provides an invaluable platform for the DOE and local, regional, and national stakeholders to share ideas and insights that are leveraged to alleviate the challenges of underserved communities. The primary pillars are: interest & access, supplier diversity, workforce development, STEM enhancement, technical assistance, and energy sustainability.

Mr. Campos also functions as the Department of Energy’s Chief Diversity Officer and the official Federal designee to the White House Interagency Working Group Initiatives, which includes the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics, and the White House Initiative to Promote Excellence and Innovation at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Additionally, Mr. Campos is the Department’s designee on the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council and the White House Council on Eliminating Barriers to Affordable Housing Development.

Mr. Campos has served in both the public and private sectors, working in such industries as publishing, telecommunications, state and federal government, strategic business consulting, political consulting, as well as a small business owner and adjunct business professor. His business background has enhanced his expertise in the energy sector, marketing, international commerce, workforce development, higher education, management, operations and strategic analysis, and implementation.

Prior to his Presidential appointment, Mr. Campos was the Senior Advisor on Economic Development & Strategic Planning / Government Affairs to the College President of Nevada State College (NSC), where he was involved in the areas of government and community relations/strategic business consulting, and business development.

Mr. Campos held several state-wide Gubernatorial appointments in Nevada to include: the Nevada’s Equal Rights Commission (April 2011 to 2015); Nevada’s Judicial Selection Commission as a temporary member (July 2011); the Governor’s Workforce Investment Sector Councils on Gaming, Tourism & Entertainment (Jan. 2014) and Mining and Minerals (Feb. 2014); the Governor’s Office of Economic Development’s International Trade Council (May 2014 to October 2017); and the Nevada Taxi Cab Authority Commission (March 2015 to April 2018).

Mr. Campos was formerly the Commissioner of the Nevada Consumer Affairs Division (Nevada’s Business & Industry Department), where he regulated seven industries and enforced state laws governing deceptive trade practices. He was appointed to the state-wide Commissioner’s position in February 2007.

Mr. Campos holds both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Science degree from the University of Maryland, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Glasgow, Scotland, and an Executive Program Certificate from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business in Washington, D.C.  While completing his master’s degree, Campos also studied at Corpus Christi College, the University of Oxford in England for business and literature studies and also studied cultural studies in Barcelona, Spain for a year.  He has taught college courses in the areas of organizational operations, international management, marketing, strategy, public relations, and human resources as an adjunct professor.