Dena E. Wiggins, a veteran proponent of natural gas industrial customers, is moving over to serve producers as president and CEO of the Natural Gas Supply Association (NGSA). Wiggins was elected by the NGSA board of directors recently and will join NGSA in late February.

“Dena is a recognized expert and champion of natural gas issues in the public and regulatory arena, as well as highly experienced in the association business,” said Greg Vesey, chairman of NGSA and vice president of gas supply and trading for Chevron. “Throughout her career, Dena has skillfully navigated the way to success for her positions, forming coalitions and achieving consensus as needed. That combination of knowledge and skill make her a great choice to lead NGSA.”

Wiggins has been a longtime leader of the Process Gas Consumers (PGC) group, which was strongly allied with producers through deregulation and open access battles over the last 30 years. She will be leaving her career as a partner at Ballard Spahr law group in Washington, DC, and with the PGC. Wiggins succeeds Skip Horvath, who is retiring from NGSA this spring.

Wiggins experience involves most of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s significant rulemakings in the past 20 years, including the restructuring of the natural gas industry through Order Nos. 436, 636 and 637. Wiggins also has been involved in high-profile legislation such as the Energy Policy Acts of 1992 and 2005, the decontrol of wellhead prices of natural gas, and the repeal of the Fuel Use Act, as well as efforts to increase energy exploration and production. She holds a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Richmond and a juris doctor from Georgetown University Law Center.