Christopher Allen Wright, born June 25, 1965, in Colorado, is an American engineer and businessman. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and pursued graduate studies in electrical engineering at the University of California, Berkeley.

In 1992, Wright founded Pinnacle Technologies, a company specializing in hydraulic fracture mapping, which played a significant role in advancing shale gas production. He served as CEO until 2006. He later became Chairman of Stroud Energy, an early shale gas producer, before its sale to Range Resources in 2006.

In 2010, Wright founded Liberty Energy, a Denver-based oilfield services firm focusing on hydraulic fracturing. Under his leadership, Liberty Energy has become North America’s second-largest hydraulic fracturing company, involved in nearly 10% of the United States’ total energy production.

Wright is also a board member of Oklo Inc., a nuclear technology company, and EMX Royalty, a company dealing with mineral rights and mining royalties.

In November 2024, President-elect Donald Trump nominated Wright to serve as the United States Secretary of Energy. Wright is known for his strong support of oil and gas development, including hydraulic fracturing, and has been a vocal critic of policies aimed at curbing climate change. He has publicly stated, “There is no climate crisis, and we’re not in the midst of an energy transition either.”

Wright resides in Colorado with his wife, Liz.