Former federal energy exec joins GAMCO Investors

GAMCO Investors Inc. has named John G. Vonglis, the former chief financial officer at the U.S. Department of Energy, as senior adviser to Mario J. Gabelli, chairman and CEO of the Rye firm.

In his new job, Vonglis will focus on opportunities within the aerospace and defense, energy and technology sectors. He will also serve as an adviser to a pair of GAMCO-operated companies, the communications provider LICT Corp. and the electronic components provider LGL Group.

Vonglis came to the Energy Department in December 2017 and was also chief risk officer and acting director of the department”™s Advanced Research Projects Agency. From 2002 to 2009, he served at the U.S. Department of Defense as director of management initiatives for the under secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness and later as the first chief management officer of the U.S. Air Force.

In the years between his government service, he was a senior adviser to Cross Range Capital LLC, a boutique private equity firm, and earlier was senior vice president of finance at Red Apple Group Inc. He was also a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000, losing to incumbent Rep. Nita Lowey in New York”™s 18th Congressional District.