Shaun McCutcheon

Shaun McCutcheon is an American businessman, electrical engineer, inventor, and First Amendment advocate from Birmingham, Alabama. He serves as Chairman of the Coolidge Reagan Foundation and is the founder and CEO of Coalmont Electrical Development Corporation, an electrical engineering company specializing in industrial controls, large-horsepower energy conversion, and complex projects for the coal mining and heavy industrial sectors.

A native of Vestavia Hills, Alabama, McCutcheon earned a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1989 and is a registered Professional Engineer in Alabama. He began his career in electrical controls, leading heavy industrial projects for the paper, steel, and process industries. After spending approximately 15 years traveling extensively to install motor drives and control systems, he founded Coalmont in 1996 to develop custom electrical systems for customers seeking equipment upgrades and production improvements.

McCutcheon’s engineering work has included the development of industrial electrical technologies and energy-conversion systems. He is an inventor and developer of industrial electric devices, with patents involving multipolar electric motors and generators, advanced synchronous machines, and smart rotor technologies. His areas of technical expertise include AC and DC controls, large-horsepower energy conversion, industrial automation, and electrical systems for heavy industry. His work has also included energy projects involving clean-coal liquefaction and alternative energy conversion.

Beyond engineering and business, McCutcheon is widely known for his involvement in First Amendment and campaign-finance issues. He was the successful plaintiff in the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission, which challenged federal aggregate limits on how much an individual could contribute in total to federal candidates, political parties, and political committees during a two-year election cycle. The Supreme Court ruled in his favor in 2014, striking down the aggregate contribution limits at issue in the case.

McCutcheon has remained active in public policy, political, and civic organizations. He has served as Finance Director and an elected member of the Jefferson County Republican Executive Committee, was elected to the Jefferson County Steering Committee, and has chaired the Conservative Action Fund PAC. He is also a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).

As Chairman of the Coolidge Reagan Foundation, McCutcheon brings together his experience in business, engineering, constitutional advocacy, and civic engagement. He has also worked as a media commentator and columnist on free speech issues and has supported charitable organizations, including Feed the Children.