Under Secretary of Energy for Science and Innovation
| Under Secretary of Energy for Science and Innovation | |
|---|---|
| S4 | |
| File:Seal of the United States Department of Energy.svg Seal of the U. S. Department of Energy | |
since September 26, 2025[1] | |
| United States Department of Energy | |
| Style | Mr. Under Secretary |
| Member of | U. S. Department of Energy |
| Reports to | U. S. Deputy Secretary of Energy |
| Seat | Washington, D.C., United States |
| Appointer | The president with Senate advice and consent |
| Term length | Appointed |
| Formation | 2006 |
| First holder | Raymond L. Orbach |
| Website | www |
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The under secretary for science and innovation,[2] formerly the under secretary for science and energy, is a high-ranking position within the United States Department of Energy. The position was created by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and the first under secretary for science, Raymond L. Orbach, was sworn in on June 1, 2006.[3] The under secretary is appointed by the president of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate.[4] In March 2009, Steven E. Koonin was nominated to replace Orbach.[5] Franklin (Lynn) M. Orr was sworn in as the under secretary for science and energy on December 17, 2014, and served in this position through the end of the Obama administration. The most recent under secretary were Paul Dabbar and Geraldine L. Richmond. The position is currently vacant and the most recently nominee is waiting for confirmation by the Senate.
The under secretary serves as the secretary of energy's science and technology advisor, monitors the Department of Energy's research and development programs, and advises the secretary on any gaps or duplications in them. The under secretary advises the secretary on the management and the state of the national laboratories overseen by the department.[4]
The under secretary also advises the secretary on the department's educational and training activities. Other aspects include advising the secretary on the coordinating and planning of research activities, advising the secretary on financial assistance for research activities, and carrying out additional duties assigned by the secretary, including supervising and supporting the lower-ranking assistant secretaries' research activities. In the words of the act, the under secretary is required to have "extensive background in science or engineering fields," and to be "well qualified to manage the civilian research and development programs of the Department."[4]
The office was reorganized in 2022 to include the assistant secretaries of energy efficiency and renewable energy, fossil energy and carbon management, electricity, and nuclear energy, among other programs.[2]
List of under secretaries
[edit | edit source]| No. | Portrait | Under secretary | Took office | Left office | Refs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | File:Raymond Orbach.jpg | Raymond L. Orbach | June 1, 2006 | May 2009 | [6] |
| 2 | File:Steven Koonin official portrait.jpg | Steven E. Koonin | May 19, 2009 | November 18, 2011 | [7] |
| 3 | File:FRANKLIN ORR PORTRAIT.jpg | Franklin Orr | December 17, 2014 | January 2017 | [8] |
| 4 | 
|
Paul Dabbar | November 7, 2017 | January 20, 2021 | [9] |
| 5 | 
|
Geraldine L. Richmond | November 15, 2021 | January 20, 2025 | [10] |
| 6 | File:775208327EC00007 TechCrunch (44486655512).jpg | Darío Gil | September 26, 2025 | Present |
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ https://newsroom.ibm.com/blog-ibm-names-new-director-of-ibm-research
- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Secretary Bodman Statement on Dr. Orbach Swearing In as DOE Under Secretary for Science, U.S. Department of Energy news release, June 1, 2006
- ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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