WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Assistant Secretary for Policy and International Affairs Karen Alderman Harbert today announced that she will resign her position in late February.  As Assistant Secretary, she has served as the primary policy advisor to U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman and the Department of Energy on domestic and international energy issues, new policy initiatives, climate change programs and regulatory concerns since December 2004.  She is leaving DOE to join the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for 21st Century Energy as the Executive Vice President and Managing Director.

Secretary Bodman today made the following statement on the resignation of Assistant Secretary Karen Harbert:

“The Department of Energy has benefited greatly from Karen's leadership as Assistant Secretary for Policy and International Affairs.  As a member of my senior leadership team, her experience and total commitment to the job have enabled the Department to accomplish many of its priorities and have been essential in implementing the President’s energy policies.  As the Department’s chief advisor on international affairs, Karen’s cogent and informed views have been invaluable.  She has negotiated and advanced key bilateral and multilateral partnerships that will strengthen not only the energy security of this country, but the global community as well.   I thank Karen for her distinguished service and wish her, her husband, and their two children the very best.”

Assistant Secretary Harbert’s resignation will be effective February 22, 2008.  Harbert has held senior positions in several Administrations as well as in multilateral international organizations and the private sector.  She also currently serves as Vice-Chairman of the International Energy Agency, which advises its 27 member nations on energy policy issues and orchestrates international responses to energy supply disruptions.

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