Clay Sell

Clay Sell (born 1967) is a former United States Deputy Secretary of Energy who served in the George W. Bush administration from March 21, 2005 until he resigned, effective February 29, 2008.

Sell was born in Texas on April 28, 1967 to Judy and George Sell. He is one of four children, Julie Swindle, Rob Sell, and Tom Sell. He married Alisa Malechek and they have three children, John, Robert, and Mary Margaret Sell. After resigning from office, he and his family moved to Dallas to work at Hunt Energy Horizons, where he is currently president. He currently lives there with his family.

From 2003 to 2005 Sell worked in the White House as a Special Assistant to President George W. Bush, serving on the staff of the National Economic Council and in the Office of Legislative Affairs, where he coordinated the development and implementation of the administration's energy policy.From 2005 trough 2008, he served as chief operating officer of the Department of Energy, he assisted the Secretary with policy and programmatic oversight of a 23 billion dollar budget with over 100,000 employees. Sell also played a role in maintaining and strengthening the economic national security while supporting scientific and research missions conducted by the Department. Sell also previously held senior staff positions with the Committee on Appropriations in the United States Senate and with U.S. Representative Mac Thornberry of Texas.

Before moving to Washington DC, Sell practiced law in Texas. He received his bachelor's degree from Texas Tech University and his J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law.

Jeffrey Kupfer, then Chief of Staff to Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman, was chosen to be acting Deputy Secretary after Sell announced his resignation.

In 2016, Sell publicly endorsed a carbon tax as a policy to address global climate change.

Other appointments

• Special Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs (February 2004-
• Member of the National Economic Council (Unknown-February 2004)
• Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy (Unknown-February 2004)
• Staff Director and Majority Clerk of the United States Senate Appropriations Committee on Energy and Water Development
• Chief of the Bush-Cheney Transition Energy Policy Team (2000–2001)
• Administrative Assistant to Congressman Mac Thornberry (1997–1999)
• Staff of Congressman Mac Thornberry (1995–1997)