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United States Secretary of Energy

 
Wikipedia: United States Secretary of Energy
 
United States
Secretary of Energy

Official Seal


Incumbent:
Steven Chu
since: January 21, 2009
First James R. Schlesinger
Formation August 6, 1977
Presidential
succession
Fifteenth
Website www.doe.gov

The United States Secretary of Energy is the head of the United States Department of Energy, a member of the President's Cabinet, and fifteenth in the Presidential line of succession. The post was created with the formation of the Department of Energy on October 1, 1977, by President Jimmy Carter's signing of the Department of Energy Organization Act.[1] The position was originally developed to focus on energy production and regulation. During the 1980s, the emphasis shifted to development of technology for better, more efficient energy sources as well as education regarding energy. As the Cold War ended, the department's efforts were more often devoted to nuclear waste disposal and maintenance of environmental quality.[2]

The first Secretary of Energy was former Secretary of Defense James Schlesinger, a Republican nominated to the post by Democratic President Jimmy Carter, the only time a president has appointed someone of another party to the post. Schlesinger was also the only secretary to be dismissed from the post.[3] Bill Clinton's first Secretary of Energy, Hazel R. O'Leary, was the longest to hold the position, as well as its first female and African-American holder.[4] Clinton also named Federico Peña to the post, the first Hispanic to hold the position.[5] Bill Richardson, who succeeded Peña, was the second Hispanic to hold the position and later became Governor of New Mexico.[6] On January 20, 2009, Steven Chu became the first Asian American to hold the position, serving under the administration of Barack Obama.[7]

Contents

List of Secretaries of Energy

# Name Portrait Took office Left office President served under
1 Schlesinger, JamesJames Schlesinger 01977-08-06 August 6, 1977 01979-08-06 August 6, 1979 Carter, JimmyJimmy Carter
2 Duncan, CharlesCharles Duncan 01979-08-24 August 24, 1979 01981-01-20 January 20, 1981 Carter, JimmyJimmy Carter
3 Edwards, JamesJames Edwards 01981-01-23 January 23, 1981 01982-11-05 November 5, 1982 Reagan, RonaldRonald Reagan
4 Hodel, DonaldDonald Hodel 01982-11-05 November 5, 1982 01985-02-07 February 7, 1985 Reagan, RonaldRonald Reagan
5 Herrington, JohnJohn Herrington 01985-02-07 February 7, 1985 01989-01-20 January 20, 1989 Reagan, RonaldRonald Reagan
6 Watkins, JamesJames Watkins 01989-03-01 March 1, 1989 01993-01-20 January 20, 1993 Bush, George H. W.George H. W. Bush
7 O'Leary, HazelHazel O'Leary 01993-01-22 January 22, 1993 01997-01-20 January 20, 1997 Clinton, BillBill Clinton
8 Peña, FedericoFederico Peña 01997-03-12 March 12, 1997 01998-06-30 June 30, 1998 Clinton, BillBill Clinton
9 Richardson, BillBill Richardson 01998-08-18 August 18, 1998 02001-01-20 January 20, 2001 Clinton, BillBill Clinton
10 Abraham, SpencerSpencer Abraham 02001-01-20 January 20, 2001 02005-02-01 February 1, 2005 Bush, George W.George W. Bush
11 Bodman, SamuelSamuel Bodman 02005-02-01 February 1, 2005 02009-01-20 January 20, 2009 Bush, George W.George W. Bush
12 Chu, StevenSteven Chu 02009-01-20 January 20, 2009 Present Obama, BarackBarack Obama

Related developments

President Barack Obama established a new position in the White House, the Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change, and selected Carol Browner for the new post. Browner is a former administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and is currently a principal of the Albright Group LLC, a firm that provides strategic advice to companies.[8]

See also

References

General
Specific

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