United States Secretary of Energy
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United States Secretary of Energy

PostUnited States
Secretary
BodyEnergy
InsigniaUS-DeptOfEnergy-Seal.svg
Insigniasize110px
InsigniacaptionOfficial Seal
IncumbentSteven Chu
IncumbentsinceJanuary 21, 2009
FirstJames R. Schlesinger
FormationAugust 6, 1977
SuccessionFifteenth

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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 position was formed on October 1, 1977 with the creation of the Department of Energy when President Jimmy Carter signed the Department of Energy Organization Act. Originally the post focused on energy production and regulation. The emphasis soon shifted to developing technology for better, more efficient energy sources as well as energy education. After the end of the Cold War, the department's also turned toward radioactive waste disposal and maintenance of environmental quality.

Former Secretary of Defense James Schlesinger was the first Secretary of Energy, who was 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 is also the only secretary to be dismissed from the post. Hazel O'Leary, Bill Clinton's first Secretary of Energy, was first female and African-American holder, as well as the longest to hold the position. The first Hispanic to serve as Energy Secretary was Clinton's second, Federico Peña. Steven Chu became the first Asian American to hold the position on January 20, 2009, serving under the administration of Barack Obama. He is also the first Nobel Prize winner to be a Cabinet secretary.

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United States presidential line of succession
Preceded by
Secretary of Transportation
15th in lineSucceeded by
Secretary of Education

# Portrait Name State of residence Took office Left office Party President served under
1 JamesSchlesingerJames R. Schlesinger Virginia August 6, 1977 August 6, 1979 Republican JimmyCarter
2 CharlesDuncanCharles Duncan, Jr. Texas August 24, 1979 January 20, 1981 Democratic JimmyCarter
3 JamesEdwardsJames B. Edwards South Carolina January 23, 1981 November 5, 1982 Republican RonaldReagan
4 DonaldHodelDonald P. Hodel Oregon November 5, 1982 February 7, 1985 Republican RonaldReagan
5 JohnHerringtonJohn S. Herrington California February 7, 1985 January 20, 1989 Republican RonaldReagan
6 JamesWatkinsJames D. Watkins California March 1, 1989 January 20, 1993 Republican George H. W.Bush
7 HazelO'LearyHazel R. O'Leary Minnesota January 22, 1993 January 20, 1997 Democratic BillClinton
8 FedericoPeña Colorado March 12, 1997 June 30, 1998 Democratic BillClinton
9 BillRichardsonBill Richardson (politician) New Mexico August 18, 1998 January 20, 2001 Democratic BillClinton
10 SpencerAbraham Michigan January 20, 2001 February 1, 2005 Republican George W.Bush
11 SamuelBodmanSamuel W. Bodman Illinois February 1, 2005 January 20, 2009 Republican George W.Bush
12 StevenChu California January 20, 2009 present Independent BarackObama

Agencies under the United States Department of Energy

Deputy Secretary of EnergyOffice of Intelligence and Counterintelligence * Energy Information Administration
Under Secretary of Energy for Energy and EnvironmentOffice of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management * Office of Electricity Deliverability & Energy Reliability * Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy * Office of Environmental Management * Office of Fossil Energy * Office of Legacy Management * Office of Nuclear Energy, Science & Technology
Under Secretary of Energy for Nuclear SecurityNational Nuclear Security Administration
Under Secretary of Energy for ScienceOffice of Science
Power Marketing AdministrationBonneville Power Administration * Southeastern Power Administration * Southwestern Power Administration * Western Area Power Administration
National Laboratory SystemAmes * Argonne (NBL * CNM) * Berkeley (MF) * Brookhaven * Fermilab * Idaho (RESL) * JLab * Livermore (NIF) * Los Alamos (CINT) * NETL (Albany) * NREL * Oak Ridge (SNS * CNMS) * Pacific Northwest (EMSL) * PPPL * SRNL * Sandia * SLAC
Energy Department Facilities and ReservationsFernald NLO * Hanford * Nevada Test Site (Area 19 * Area 20) * NHHOR * Rocky Flats * SRS * SPR * WIPP * Yucca Mountain
Independent AgencyFederal Energy Regulatory Commission

Leaders of the United States federal executive departments

Agriculture * Commerce * Defense * Education * Energy * Health and Human Services * Homeland Security * Housing and Urban Development * Interior * Justice * Labor * State * Transportation * Treasury * Veterans Affairs
Past department leaders: Commerce and Labor * Health, Education, and Welfare * Navy * Post Office * War



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