US Wind, Inc. (US Wind) announced that Robert A. Strickland has joined the Company’s executive management team as Chief Financial Officer, effective May 20, 2024. With over 20 years of experience in the energy and infrastructure industries, Strickland—who spent the last five years at Apollo Global Management—has a demonstrated track record of success in managing complex commercial projects.
“We’re lucky to have someone with Rob’s deep experience with infrastructure and power projects join the US Wind team,” said Jeffrey Grybowski, US Wind CEO. “He has been a senior investment professional on many complex deals and has managed numerous energy projects for major investors from development and construction through to operations. We’re thrilled for Rob to join our best-in-class team to deliver clean energy and good jobs to Delmarva.”
“We are very excited to move Rob into this new operating role, and for US Wind’s continued success in developing Maryland’s first offshore wind project with its expanding team,” said Brad Fierstein, Partner at Apollo.
At Apollo, Strickland led both execution and asset management as part of Apollo’s Sustainable Investing Platform. Apollo funds have been investors in US Wind since 2020, building out the world-class team at US Wind and supporting project development. Prior to Apollo, Strickland worked at GE Capital where he focused on renewable energy infrastructure projects. Most recently, Strickland has helped guide Apollo funds’ investment in Arthur Kill Terminal, a purpose-built offshore wind staging and assembly port under development in Staten Island, New York.
US Wind controls the rights to an 80,000-acre lease area located off the coast of Maryland, which can support close to 1,800 megawatts (MW) of offshore wind energy generation. In October 2023, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) issued a draft environmental impact statement on US Wind’s construction and operations plan, positioning the Company to secure final federal permits by the end of 2024. US Wind is also establishing Maryland’s first permanent offshore wind factory—Sparrows Point Steel—at the site of the former Bethlehem Steel Shipyard in Baltimore County to manufacture parts for the US offshore wind industry.
