United States Secretary of Energy

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United States Secretary of Energy
Seal of the United States Department of Energy.svg
Seal of the department
Flag of the United States Secretary of Energy.svg
Flag of the secretary
Secretary Jennifer Granholm (June 2021).jpg
Incumbent
Jennifer Granholm
since February 25, 2021
United States Department of Energy
Style Madam Secretary (informal)
The Honorable (formal)
Member of United States Cabinet
United States National Security Council
Reports to President of the United States
Seat James V. Forrestal Building, Washington, D.C.
AppointerThe President of the United States
with Senate advice and consent
Term length No fixed term
Constituting instrument 42 U.S.C.   § 7131
FormationAugust 6, 1977
First holder James R. Schlesinger
Succession Fifteenth [1]
Deputy Deputy Secretary
Salary Executive Schedule, level I
Website Energy.gov

The United States secretary of energy is the head of the United States Department of Energy, a member of the Cabinet of the United States, and fifteenth in the presidential line of succession. The position was created on October 1, 1977, when President Jimmy Carter signed the Department of Energy Organization Act, establishing the department. [2] The energy secretary and the department originally focused on energy production and regulation. The emphasis soon shifted to developing technology for better and more efficient energy sources, as well as energy education. After the end of the Cold War, the department's attention also turned toward radioactive waste disposal and the maintenance of environmental quality. [3] Former secretary of defense James Schlesinger served as the first secretary of energy. As a Republican nominated to the post by Democratic president Jimmy Carter, Schlesinger's appointment marks the only time a president has chosen a member of another political party for the position. Schlesinger is also the only secretary to be dismissed from the post. [4] Hazel O'Leary, Bill Clinton's first secretary of energy, was the first female and first African American to hold the position. [5] The first Hispanic to serve as Energy Secretary was Clinton's second energy secretary, Federico Peña. [6] Spencer Abraham became the first Arab American to hold the position on January 20, 2001, serving under the administration of George W. Bush. Steven Chu became the first Asian American to hold the position on January 20, 2009, serving under president Barack Obama. Chu was also the longest-serving secretary of energy and the first individual to join the Cabinet after having received a Nobel Prize. [7]

Contents

President Joe Biden's nominee to be Secretary of Energy, former Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm, was confirmed on February 25, 2021. Granholm is the second woman to lead the Department of Energy. [8]

Nuclear weapons

In addition to responsibilities related to generation and use of energy, the secretary is the most senior official other than the president of the United States or Secretary of Defense with primary responsibility for the nation's ~3,800 viable nuclear weapons. This arrangement is intended to maintain full civilian control over strategic weapons, except as directed by the president for specific military uses.[ citation needed ] The department of energy is responsible for the building, maintenance, and disposal of all nuclear weapons within the United States' arsenal in addition to safeguarding these weapons when they are not actively deployed in military service. Under the terms of several successive treaties, most recently New START, the United States has reduced its strategic arsenal to 1500 deployed weapons. Consequently, many older legacy weapons systems have been dismantled or scheduled for dismantlement, with their core radioactive fuel - generally plutonium - being reprocessed into reactor-grade or space exploration fuel.[ citation needed ]

List of secretaries of energy

Parties

   Democratic (7)    Republican (9)[ citation needed ]

Status

  Acting Secretary of Energy

No.PortraitNameState of residenceTook officeLeft officeParty President(s)
1 James Schlesinger official DoD photo BW (cropped).jpg James Schlesinger Virginia August 6, 1977August 23, 1979 Republican Jimmy Carter
2 Secretary duncan.jpg Charles Duncan Texas August 24, 1979January 20, 1981 Democratic
3 U.S. Secretary of Energy James Edwards of South Carolina.jpg James Edwards South Carolina January 23, 1981November 5, 1982Republican Ronald Reagan
4 Donald hodel.JPG Donald Hodel Oregon November 5, 1982February 7, 1985Republican
5 John S. Herrington, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Manpower and Reserve Affairs.jpg John Herrington California February 7, 1985January 20, 1989Republican
6 AdmiralWatkinsSmall.jpg James Watkins CaliforniaMarch 1, 1989January 20, 1993Republican George H. W. Bush
7 Hazel O'Leary 2.jpg Hazel O'Leary VirginiaJanuary 22, 1993January 20, 1997Democratic Bill Clinton
Charles B Curtis DOE web.jpg Charles B. Curtis Pennsylvania January 20, 1997March 12, 1997Democratic
8 Federico pena.jpg Federico Peña Colorado March 12, 1997June 30, 1998Democratic
9 Bill Richardson, official DOE photo.png Bill Richardson New Mexico August 18, 1998January 20, 2001Democratic
10 Spencer Abraham.jpg Spencer Abraham Michigan January 20, 2001February 1, 2005Republican George W. Bush
11 Samuel Bodman.jpg Samuel Bodman Illinois February 1, 2005January 20, 2009Republican
12 Steven Chu official DOE portrait.jpg Steven Chu CaliforniaJanuary 20, 2009April 22, 2013Democratic Barack Obama
Daniel Poneman official portrait.jpg Daniel Poneman Ohio April 22, 2013May 21, 2013Democratic
13 Ernest Moniz official portrait.jpg Ernest Moniz Massachusetts May 21, 2013January 20, 2017Democratic
Grace Bochenek (4x3 crop).jpg Grace Bochenek January 20, 2017March 2, 2017 Donald Trump
14 Rick Perry official portrait.jpg Rick Perry Texas March 2, 2017December 1, 2019Republican
15 Dan Brouillette official photo (cropped).jpg Dan Brouillette TexasDecember 1, 2019December 4, 2019Republican
December 4, 2019January 20, 2021
David G. Huizenga official portrait.jpg David Huizenga January 20, 2021February 25, 2021Democratic Joe Biden
16 Secretary Jennifer Granholm (June 2021).jpg Jennifer Granholm Michigan February 25, 2021IncumbentDemocratic

See also

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References

  1. "3 U.S. Code § 19 - Vacancy in offices of both President and Vice President; officers eligible to act | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute". Law.cornell.edu. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  2. "Origins". U.S. Department of Energy. Archived from the original on July 12, 2007. Retrieved July 29, 2007.
  3. "The Clinton Administration". The Washington Post . February 18, 2000. Retrieved July 29, 2007.
  4. "Biography of James Schlesinger Origins". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved August 13, 2007.
  5. "President Hazel R. O'Leary Honored by Urban League". Fisk University. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved August 13, 2007.
  6. "Federico F. Peña to be Sworn in as the Eighth Secretary of Energy". U.S. Department of Energy. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved August 13, 2007.
  7. Rudin, Ken (December 15, 2008). "npr.org". NPR. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  8. "Secretaries of Energy". Energy.gov. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Secretary of Transportation Order of precedence of the United States
as Secretary of Energy
Succeeded byas Secretary of Education
U.S. presidential line of succession
Preceded by 15th in line
Ineligible
Succeeded by