WASHINGTON, D.C. - Steven Aoki has been named deputy under secretary of energy for counterterrorism. In this position, which he has held in an acting capacity for nine months, Aoki is responsible for coordinating counterterrorism policy throughout the U.S. Department of Energy. He reports to Linton Brooks, administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and under secretary of energy for nuclear security.

Much of the focus of the department's counterterrorism efforts centers on the nuclear weapons complex, but this responsibility cuts across many organizations in DOE, including the offices of intelligence, counterintelligence and security.

Aoki serves as the DOE and NNSA senior point of contact with the Department of Homeland Security, including the new Defense Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO).

"I have worked with Steve in different capacities for many years, and I am pleased he will serve our nation in this new role. His experience and knowledge will serve him well in this position," Brooks said. "In this age of new and expanding threats, it is important we have a solid person in a counterterrorism role to ensure the security of our nuclear weapons, as well as the reliability of our emergency operations and response."

Prior to being appointed to this position, Aoki was the senior advisor for international programs and nonproliferation to the NNSA administrator. Before joining NNSA, he served at the U.S. Department of State as the director of the Office of Proliferation Threat Reduction. During 1993-96, he was on the staff of the National Security Council, with responsibility for nonproliferation and export control policies. Prior to that, he served as special assistant to the under secretary for International Security Affairs and in several positions in the Bureaus of Politico-Military Affairs and Near East-South Asian Affairs at the State Department, specializing in nonproliferation, regional security, and counterterrorism activities. From 1978 to 1984 he was a scientific staff member at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. He holds a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Chicago.

Media contact(s):
Kim Krueger (202) 586-7371

Number: NA-05-14