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Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy

Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy, Department of Energy
Responsibility
Management Scope

The Office of Nuclear Energy fiscal 2016 enacted budget was $986 million and the 2018 budget request was $703 million. Nuclear Energy had 351 full-time equivalents in 2016.3

Primary Responsibilities

• Leads the Office of Nuclear Energy
• Engages on the international level to support the safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear energy, and supports other departmental offices and federal agencies on issues related to the international use of civilian nuclear energy
• Fosters the capability to use nuclear power systems in national security and space exploration missions
• Provides oversight for specifically assigned front-end fuel cycle responsibilities and stewardship of the Department of Energy Idaho Site4

Strategic Goals and Priorities
[Depends on the policy priorities of the administration.]
Requirements

• Energy background, preferably with a focus on nuclear energy
• Previous government experience (preferred)
• Strong management experience
• Relationships with relevant stakeholders or ability to form them
• Familiarity with the legislative and federal budget process

Competencies

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Excellent leadership and negotiation skills
• Ability to work under high pressure and handle sensitive matters
• Ability to work in a matrixed environment with diverse high-level stakeholders

Past Appointments
  • Peter Bruce Lyons (2011 to 2017): Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Nuclear Energy; Commissioner, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Science Advisor, Senator Pete Domenici and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources5
  • Warren F. Miller, Jr. (2009 to 2011): Associate Director of the Nuclear Security Science and Policy Institute, Texas A&M University; TEES Professor, Texas A&M University; Senior Administrator, Los Alamos National Laboratory6
  • Dennis R. Spurgeon (2006 to 2009): Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Office, USEC, Inc.; Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Principal Owner, Swiftships; Assistant Director for Fuel Cycle, Energy Research and Development Administration7
AGENCY

Department of Energy

Mission: To ensure America's security and prosperity by addressing its energy, environmental and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions.

COMPENSATION

Level IV $155,500 (5 U.S.C. § 5315)1

REPORTS TO

Undersecretary for Science and Energy2

SENATE COMMITTEE

Energy and Natural Resources

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Footnote
  1. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-31, May 5, 2017), contains a provision that continues the freeze on the payable pay rates for certain senior political officials at 2013 levels during calendar year 2017.
  2. https://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2017/01/f34/DOECHART-2017-01.pdf
  3. https://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2017/05/f34/FY2018BudgetVolume3_0.pdf
  4. OPM
  5. https://energy.gov/contributors/peter-b-lyons
  6. http://cisac.fsi.stanford.edu/people/warren_f_miller
  7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Spurgeon
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