Gregory L. Hood serves as the President / COO. He has over 28 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, specializing in offshore and land drilling, thermal wells, and saltwater disposal wells. Throughout his career, he has successfully drilled over 300 wells. Gregory has a strong background in project management, leading cross-functional teams to deliver complex projects on time. He has worked with prominent companies such as Chevron, BPX Lower 48, Apache, Pioneer Natural Resources, Petro Hunt Permian LLC and Crescent Drilling Foreman and Production.

Matthew Merkley brings more than 17 years of land, mineral, and renewable-energy experience to Valor Energy Partners. Starting as a Courthouse Landman in the Barnett Shale, he quickly advanced to leading mineral acquisitions in the Eagle Ford and ultimately served as Vice President of Land for Dorfman Production Company, managing interests across 22 states. As a consultant, he has directed large teams of landmen on Permian Basin projects and championed the use of advanced GIS technologies to streamline title and acreage analysis. During the 2020 industry downturn he pivoted to renewables, evaluating Midwest wind-farm sites and later securing utility-scale solar acreage across the Southeast for Actualize Solar. A U.S. Navy veteran, Matthew’s disciplined approach and cross-sector insight consistently unlock new value for stakeholders.

• Negotiated and closed mineral & lease transactions spanning 22 states enhancing portfolio value and operational optionality

• Led multi-disciplinary land teams on complex Permian Basin drilling programs, accelerating cycle times and reducing title risk

• Deployed GIS-driven workflows that cut acreage evaluation time by 40 %, boosting efficiency for clients and investors

• Secured and permitted > 2 GW of wind and solar projects across IL, VA, GA, TN, and LA, underscoring versatility in emerging-energy markets

Career Highlights: Matthew has successfully managed land assets valued at over $1 billion throughout his career, with expertise in acquisition, divestiture, and optimization strategies. His background includes significant experience in financial modeling, valuation, and strategic planning for energy assets.

Samson serves as the Director of Geoscience and Geologist. Samson brings extensive experience across the Lower 48 onshore plays, serving in a number of roles from Operations Geology to Petrophysics in operational optimization at the drill bit, log analysis and business development.

Career Highlights: Samson has been instrumental in the discovery and development of multiple high-performing assets across major U.S. basins. His technical expertise has directly contributed to the successful drilling and completion of over 200 wells, with a focus on optimizing production and maximizing resource recovery.

Linus serves as the VP of Drilling Operations and brings over 17 years of oil, gas, and geothermal drilling expertise across land, offshore, and ultra-deepwater environments. A proud veteran of the United States Marine Corps, known for leading some of the most complex managed pressure drilling (MPD) operations in the industry. His experience spans record-setting 31,000' MD wells for extreme length laterals in the Utica Shale, the implementation of full-cycle MPD systems in the Gulf of Mexico and Black Sea, and successful execution of HPHT and sour gas wells for major global operators including Shell, Statoil (Equinor), Exxon, Pemex, Petrobras, Oxy, Antero, and Hilcorp. He has played a critical role in building and commissioning MPD systems both offshore and onshore, managing full rig mobilizations, and training operational teams. Allen's track record includes reducing skin factor through tight-window drilling, navigating narrow bottom hole equivalent circulating density (BHECD) margins, and ensuring regulatory compliance in high-risk environments. His experience extends across all major shale plays in the Lower 48 and includes ultra-deepwater operations in water depths exceeding 11,000 feet.

Core Responsibilities: As VP of Drilling, Linus leads and manages drilling teams across multiple rigs and regions. He is responsible for developing drilling programs that optimize cost, safety, and operational efficiency. He ensures full compliance with environmental and safety regulations and oversees vendor selection and contract negotiations for drilling services. His role also includes monitoring real-time performance metrics, identifying operational issues, and collaborating closely with geoscience, completions, and production teams to ensure integrated well delivery.

John is a seasoned land professional with 20+ years in mineral leasehold and royalty acquisitions—leading campaigns over 1 million acres and $500 million in deal value. He's renowned for structuring complex transactions that align operator and investor goals, and for using GIS mapping and drone photography to deliver precise land assessments.

Career Highlights: John has successfully led large-scale acquisition campaigns in the Permian, Eagle Ford, and other major U.S. basins. His strategic approach to land acquisition has consistently resulted in securing prime acreage positions ahead of market trends, creating significant value for investors.