WASHINGTON, DC – Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman today administered the oath of office to three newly confirmed and appointed senior officials: C.H. “Bud” Albright Jr., as Under Secretary, Lisa Epifani as the Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs, and Kevin Kolevar as the Assistant Secretary for Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability.

“I applaud the Senate for unanimously confirming Bud Albright as Under Secretary for Energy, and Lisa Epifani and Kevin Kolevar as Assistant Secretaries,” Secretary Bodman said.  “I am pleased to have Bud, Lisa and Kevin on my leadership team and I am confident their respective backgrounds and unique expertise will be invaluable as the Department works aggressively to advance President Bush’s bold energy agenda.”

UNDER SECRETARY BUD ALBRIGHT
As Under Secretary, Albright will oversee the Department’s Energy and Environment programs, including: the Offices of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Environmental Management, Fossil Energy, Legacy Management, Nuclear Energy, and Radioactive Waste Management.

“Bud’s breadth of experience, record of leadership in government and the private sector, and proven understanding of energy issues will ensure the Department continues to carry out its energy and environment missions, particularly as we work to diversify our Nation’s energy supply and increase the use of clean, renewable energy,” Secretary Bodman said of Albright.

Albright comes to DOE from the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served as Republican Staff Director for the Committee on Energy and Commerce while working to address challenges facing the country’s energy, environmental, telecommunications, and health industries.  Albright was previously Vice President of Federal Affairs at Reliant Energy, and has served as Deputy Associate Attorney General at the U.S. Department of Justice, as well as Deputy General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.  Albright holds degrees from Presbyterian College in his home state of South Carolina and the George Mason University School of Law.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR CONGRESSIONAL & INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS, LISA EPIFANI
Assistant Secretary Epifani will lead the Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs, which works to promote DOE policies, programs and initiatives through liaison, communications, coordination and interaction with Congress and with state, tribal, city, and county governments.

“Lisa’s knowledge of energy issues, legislative experience and commitment to public service make her superbly qualified to help further the Department’s mission and the President’s dynamic agenda for energy policies,” Secretary Bodman said of Epifani.

Epifani returns to the Department where she once served as Senior Legislative Advisor.  After her DOE service, she was Counsel for the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.  Most recently, Epifani served as Special Assistant to the President at the White House National Economic Council, where she advised on domestic energy issues.  Epifani is a University of Texas and Yale Law School graduate.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR ELECTRICITY DELIVERY & ENERGY RELIABILITY, KEVIN KOLEVAR
As Assistant Secretary, Kevin Kolevar will continue to lead the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE), which manages DOE efforts to modernize the nation’s electric grid; enhance the security and reliability of the energy infrastructure; and facilitate recovery from disruptions to the energy supply.

“Kevin’s wealth of energy policy expertise, attention to detail, and longstanding commitment to this Department make him a highly regarded member of my senior staff, and I look forward to his continued counsel and advice in his new capacity as Assistant Secretary,” Secretary Bodman said of Kolevar.

Kolevar has served as Director of OE since 2005.  He has also served as chief of staff to then-Deputy Secretary of Energy Kyle McSlarrow where he supported and advised the Secretary and Deputy Secretary on policy, regulatory, and legislative matters as well as Departmental program management.  Kolevar also worked as a senior policy advisor to then-Secretary Spencer Abraham on security and technology issues.  Before joining DOE, Kolevar spent over ten years serving as U.S. Senate staff in the offices of Senators Spencer Abraham (R-MI) and Connie Mack (R-FL).  He is a graduate of the University of Michigan.

The three officials sworn in today will immediately assume or continue their work at the Department of Energy.  View biographies of Under Secretary Albright, Assistant Secretary Epifani and Assistant Secretary Kolevar.

Media contact(s):
Julie Ruggiero, (202) 586-4940