Richard Gideon serves as Chief Operating Officer at Diversified Energy Company, where he leads the company's operational strategy, overseeing production, asset management, and field operations across its extensive portfolio of natural gas wells in the Appalachian and Central U.S. regions. With more than 25 years of experience in the upstream energy sector, Richard has honed his expertise in optimizing mature assets, enhancing safety protocols, and driving sustainable production growth. His leadership has been instrumental in positioning Diversified Energy as a leader in responsible energy production from legacy wells. Gideon's professional journey began as a petroleum engineer at BP, where he advanced to senior roles managing offshore and onshore operations in the Gulf of Mexico and North Sea. He later served as Vice President of Operations at a midstream energy firm, spearheading a $500 million acquisition and integration project that boosted efficiency by 30% and reduced downtime through advanced data analytics and automation. His achievements include receiving the Society of Petroleum Engineers' Distinguished Service Award for innovations in well integrity and emissions reduction, as well as leading teams that achieved record-low incident rates in high-volume production environments. At Diversified Energy, Richard continues to champion operational excellence, implementing AI-driven predictive maintenance that has increased well uptime by 15% and supported the company's commitment to net-zero ambitions. Under his guidance, the firm has expanded its asset base while prioritizing environmental stewardship and community engagement, solidifying its role as a reliable energy provider.