William Robert Steele Jr. is a distinguished financial executive with over 25 years of experience in the natural resources, energy, and public markets sectors. He began his career at Deloitte & Touche, where he honed his expertise in audit and advisory services for mining and oil & gas clients, rising to partner level. Steele later transitioned into corporate finance roles, serving as Vice President of Finance at several NYSE-listed companies, including stints at midstream energy firms where he spearheaded capital raises exceeding $500 million and navigated complex mergers and acquisitions. Throughout his career, Steele has earned acclaim for his strategic financial leadership, including guiding three successful IPOs and implementing cost-optimization programs that delivered over 30% improvements in EBITDA margins for resource-based enterprises. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and holder of an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin, he has also served on boards for industry associations, advocating for sustainable financing in critical minerals development. As Chief Financial Officer at USA Rare Earth Inc. (Class A), Steele oversees all financial operations, investor relations, and capital markets strategy for the company's pioneering rare earth mining and processing initiatives in Oklahoma and Texas. Under his guidance, the firm has secured strategic funding partnerships and advanced toward full-scale production of high-purity rare earth oxides, positioning USA Rare Earth as a key domestic supplier amid global supply chain disruptions. His vision emphasizes fiscal discipline and growth to support America's push for rare earth independence.