Gov. Linda Lingle named Joshua B.Y. Strickler as the state's first energy facilitator, who will work to help increase the use of renewable energy and decrease Hawai'i's dependence on imported oil.

The new post was proposed this year by the Lingle-Aiona administration and approved by the state Legislature.

As renewable energy facilitator, Strickler's duties will include assisting renewable energy projects with the existing permitting process; working with federal, state and county agencies to streamline the permitting process for new renewable energy facilities while preserving the authority of the agencies to review and approve permits under their respective jurisdictions; and coordinating energy projects.

"The state is fortunate to have someone with Joshua's experience join our efforts to have 70 percent of Hawai'i's energy come from clean, renewable sources by 2030," Lingle said. "The new energy facilitator position will play an important role in coordinating and streamlining energy projects, and make our state more attractive for businesses to invest in renewable energy technologies and energy conservation systems."

Strickler is a registered professional engineer as well as a licensed attorney.

Before taking the state job, Strickler worked as an attorney with the legal firm of Kobayashi Sugita & Goda where he worked principally on construction litigation.

Before launching his law career, Strickler served as facility manager for Raytheon Services where he helped with the building of a new oil field in Kazakhstan.

He also worked as station engineer at the Admundsen-Scott South Pole Station in Antarctica where he managed the operations of the power plant and electrical distribution grid.

While serving as a maintenance engineer for the U.S. Air Force, Strickler managed a utility program and coordinated facility usage and energy conservation at Reese Air Force Base in Lubbock, Texas.

Strickler also completed the offshore petroleum drill executive program for Noble Drilling in Houston and worked offshore as a safety officer as well as leading repair and upgrade projects for drilling rigs.

Strickler earned his law degree from the University of Hawai'i William S. Richardson School of Law and is pursuing a master of business administration from the UH Shidler College of Business.

He earned his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from Virginia Military Institute.