William M. Arnold (1944-2020)

Bill Arnold became Professor in the Practice of Energy Management at Rice Business in 2009 following careers in banking, government and energy. He taught graduate-level courses on geopolitics of energy, energy transitions, and entrepreneurship in international energy.

He participated in the Aspen Institute Forum on Global Energy, Economy, and Security; lectured annually at Windsor Castle on strategic energy issues; and was Professor in Residence for the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators. His articles and interviews on energy issues were published by local and international media. He served on the International Energy Advisory Committee of Lloyds’ Register, the 258 year-old British company, from 2013-2016.

Bill was Royal Dutch Shell's Washington Director of International Government Relations and Senior Counsel for the Middle East, Latin America, and North Africa. During 16 years with Shell, he provided geopolitical insights to develop business strategies and advance multi-billion dollar projects.

He held a White House appointment as Senior Vice President of the Export Import Bank of the United States from 1983 to 1988. He was Eximbank’s liaison officer to the Berne Union, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund. He was Chairman of the Board of the Foreign Credit Insurance Association.

His international banking experience included First City National Bank-Houston, Banco do Commercio e Industria de Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Texas Commerce Bank.

Bill held a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Cornell University; a Master of Arts in Latin American Studies and an MBA from UT-Austin.

While in his early 20s he was founding field director and later vice chairman and chairman of Amigos de las Americas, the private international development organization that has trained more than 25,000 volunteers for service projects in many of the poorest communities throughout Latin America.  

A soldier from 1970-72, he served at “Raven Rock,” was awarded the U.S. Army Commendation Medal, and was Soldier of the Month in the 5th Replacement Battalion, Europe.

He served as a lead advance representative for Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush beginning in the 1980 Presidential primaries.