Ben Shepperd has served as President of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association (PBPA) since 2006. In this role, he leads one of the nation's largest regional oil and gas trade associations, representing the interests of the Permian Basin before legislative and regulatory bodies in Texas, New Mexico, and Washington, D.C. With more than three decades of experience in public policy and government affairs, he is recognized for his leadership on energy, environmental, regulatory, and economic issues affecting the oil and natural gas industry.

Prior to joining PBPA, Mr. Shepperd built an extensive career in Texas state government. His legislative experience includes serving on the staffs of Texas Representatives David Swinford, Harvey Hilderbran, and Buddy West. He served as Committee Counsel for the Texas House Energy Resources Committee under Chairman West and later as Chairman Hilderbran's Water Policy Advisor during the 79th Texas Legislature, where he focused on issues before the House Natural Resources Committee.

Mr. Shepperd also held leadership positions with several Texas state agencies, including the Texas Department of Agriculture, the Texas Department of Economic Development as Director of Rural Affairs, and the Railroad Commission of Texas, where he served as Legislative and Policy Director for Commissioner Charles Matthews.

Mr. Shepperd earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from The University of Texas at Austin and a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Texas A&M University. He serves on the Board of Directors of the John Ben Shepperd Public Leadership Institute Foundation at The University of Texas Permian Basin. In 2025, he was honored by the Permian Basin International Oil Show as the PBIOS Honoree in recognition of a lifetime of commitment, excellence, and invaluable contributions to the industry.