David F. Smith, National Fuel Gas Co.'s president and chief executive officer, was named

Thursday to the additional role of chairman of the Amherst-based energy company.

Smith inherits the chairman title from Philip C. Ackerman, 66, the former National Fuel

president and chief executive officer, who will continue to serve as a member of the company's

board of directors. Ackerman had been the company's chairman since 2002.

National Fuel, under former CEOs Louis R. Reif, Bernard J. Kennedy, Ackerman and now,

Smith, has branched out beyond its traditional utility base in Western New York and

northwestern Pennsylvania to expand into the pipeline and natural gas storage business, as

well as oil and gas drilling.

Smith vowed Thursday to continue with those efforts, while praising Ackerman's "steady hand

and strong leadership" during his more than 40-year tenure at National Fuel.

The elevation of Smith to the chairman's role completes his steady advancement up National

Fuel's executive ranks. Smith, 56, joined the company in 1978 and held a variety of executive

posts at the firm, culminating with his 2006 promotion to succeed Ackerman as president and

his 2008 appointment to replace Ackerman as chief executive officer.

Smith, a graduate of Fredonia State College and the University at Buffalo School of Law,

was named to the company's board in 2007.

Ackerman joined National Fuel in 1968 and has been on its board since 1994, and added the

duties of chairman in 2002.