NAPLES, November 11, 2013 — James T. Hackett, former CEO of Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, is the recipient of the American Petroleum Institute’s 2013 Gold Medal for Distinguished Achievement.

The award, API’s highest honor, recognizes leaders who have made substantial contributions to the oil and natural gas industry throughout their careers. This year’s award was presented during the API Annual Meeting in Naples, Florida.

"James Hackett is an outstanding leader who has helped to fuel tremendous success in America’s oil and natural gas industry," API President and CEO Jack Gerard said. "From engineering to finance, he has contributed decades of insight and innovation to the field."

Hackett retired in June 2013 from Anadarko Petroleum, where he served as Executive Chairman of the Board and CEO. Prior to joining Anadarko in 2003, he held senior executive positions at Devon Energy, Ocean Energy, Seagull Energy, Duke Energy, and Pan Energy.

Hackett’s broad range of experience includes the development of unconventional energy sources across North America. He has provided key management for projects both onshore and offshore, as well as the exploration of deepwater resources.

Today, Hackett continues to lead the industry as Chairman of the National Petroleum Council and a Partner at Riverstone Holdings LLC, an energy-focused private investment firm. Holding a B.S. from the University of Illinois and a M.B.A from Harvard University, Hackett is currently pursuing additional studies at Harvard Divinity School.

In addition, Hackett has a long history of sharing his unique expertise across industries and academia. He is member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, Chairman of the Baylor College of Medicine, and the former Chairman of the Board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. He also served as a Board Member and adjunct professor at Rice University.

API is a national trade association that represents all segments of America’s technology-driven oil and natural gas industry. Its more than 550 members – including large integrated companies, exploration and production, refining, marketing, pipeline, and marine businesses, and service and supply firms – provide most of the nation’s energy and are backed by a growing grassroots movement of over 15 million Americans. The industry also supports 9.8 million U.S. jobs and 8 percent of the U.S. economy, delivers $85 million a day in revenue to our government, and, since 2000, has invested over $2 trillion in U.S. capital projects to advance all forms of energy, including alternatives.