John Smitherman

Senior Advisor
New Mexico Oil & Gas Association

John Smitherman served in many roles during his 38+ year career with a private O&G firm headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. He holds a B.S. from the University of Texas at Austin and has worked as an engineer in production and reservoir, manager in operations and drilling, and officer with responsibilities including all operational aspects of the business. In his tenure Mr. Smitherman earned an award from the Bureau of Land Management for establishing a successful conservation program designed to both preserve two vulnerable species and protect responsible oil and gas operations. This program has raised over $40 million through 2022 in conservation funds to be used to support these
species. He was also awarded the Director’s Excellence Through Leadership Award from the Department of the Interior (Bureau of Land Management) for his efforts to reset the operating rules governing Oil & Gas and Potash mining operations within the federally established Secretarial Order Potash Area in
southeast New Mexico. He was selected as a Distinguished Lecturer by the Society of Petroleum Engineers for the 2020-2021 season.

After retiring from the operating company, Mr. Smitherman joined the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association, the largest oil and gas trade association in New Mexico, as a Senior Advisor in 2020. Since that time, he has been focused on regulatory matters related to many of the agencies that have oversight of oil and gas exploration and production in the state.

Mr. Smitherman lives in Fort Worth, Texas with his wife of 40+ years with whom he shares two adult children.