This page features biographies for the members of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) management. For more information, see the EERE organization chart.
Executive Leadership
David Friedman
Assistant Secretary (Acting)
David Friedman leads EERE's energy portfolio, helping hasten the transition to a clean energy economy. He oversees six major technology and strategic areas, including Energy Efficiency, Renewable Power, Sustainable Transportation, Strategic Programs, Financial Management, and Business Operations offices. He represents EERE before national, state, and local audiences to reinforce EERE's mission and to leverage partnerships to transform the nation's economic engine to one powered by clean energy.
David Friedman
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary
David Friedman helps lead the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). As Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, he helps manage day-to-day operations and oversee a broad technology portfolio designed to accelerate development and deployment of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.
Janine Benner
Associate Assistant Secretary
Janine Benner works with Acting Assistant Secretary David Friedman to formulate and manage EERE's technology research and development programs. She leads corporate strategy, corporate planning, and policy and executive level management of EERE's priority efforts.
Steven Chalk
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Operations and Strategic Innovation
Steve Chalk directs EERE's business operations, including finance and budget, IT, project management, strategic programs, and workforce management. In addition, he also oversees the Golden Field Office in Golden, Colorado and leads strategic initiatives to improve the way EERE conducts its daily operations.
Roland Risser
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Renewable Power
Roland Risser directs EERE's renewable energy applied research, development, and demonstration activities for the geothermal, solar energy, and wind and water power technology offices. In addition, he oversees EERE's laboratory engagement and energy system integration efforts.
Reuben Sarkar
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation
Reuben Sarkar oversees EERE's Sustainable Transportation area, which includes the Vehicle, Fuel Cell, and Bioenergy Technologies offices. Their focus is to reduce our oil dependence, avoid pollution, and create jobs by designing and manufacturing petroleum alternatives and more energy efficient cars and trucks.
Kathleen Hogan
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency
Dr. Kathleen Hogan is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency in the Office of EERE. In this capacity, she oversees a more than $600 million annual energy efficiency policy, program, and research portfolio, including advanced manufacturing, buildings, federal energy management, low income weatherization, and intergovernmental partnerships.
Michael Budney
Director of Business Operations
Michael Budney manages EERE's daily operations. In that role, he oversees the Workforce Management, the Project Management Coordination and Information Technology Services offices to ensure their efforts are aligned, effective, and responsive to the organization's needs.
Robert Dixon
Strategic Programs Director
In directing Strategic Programs within the Office of EERE, Dr. Robert K. Dixon oversees strategic communications, legislative affairs, international activities, stakeholder engagement, and policy and analysis functions, as well as special activities such as Technology-to-Market, the Laboratory Impact Initiative, and the Clean Energy Manufacturing Initiative.
Matthew Nelson
Chief of Strategic Initiatives
As Chief of Strategic Initiatives, Matthew Nelson supports EERE's Assistant Secretary in carrying out the organization's vision and mission and overseeing strategic initiatives and programs.
Kristin Kingsley
Senior Advisor
As Senior Advisor, Kristin Kingsley supports EERE's Assistant Secretary in carrying out the organization's vision and mission, as well as managing EERE day-to-day operations.
Danielle Deane-Ryan
Senior Advisor for External Affairs and Acting Stakeholder Engagement Director
As the Senior Advisor for External Affairs, Danielle Deane-Ryan guides EERE's Acting Assistant Secretary on external affairs strategies and manages stakeholder engagement.
Derrick Ramos
Chief of Staff (Acting)
Derrick Ramos is the acting Chief of Staff. He supports the Assistant Secretary in carrying out the organization’s processes and procedures.
Technology Sector Leaders
Sustainable Transportation
Michael Berube
Vehicle Technologies Office Director
Michael Berube leads initiatives and programs that help reduce America's dependence on foreign oil and secure a clean energy future. The Vehicle Technologies Office supports research for hybrid drivetrains, advanced batteries, lightweight materials, advanced combustion and fuels, vehicle systems integration, and Clean Cities deployment activities.
Sunita Satyapal
Fuel Cell Technologies Office Director
Sunita Satyapal is responsible for the Office's overall strategy and execution, including oversight and coordination of about $100 million in research, development, demonstration, and deployment activities related to hydrogen and fuel cells.
Jonathan Male
Bioenergy Technologies Office Director
Jonathan Male leads the Office's overall strategic, technical, and project oversight of efforts to improve performance, lower costs, and accelerate market entry of advanced biofuels and bioproducts, which can help reduce America's imports of oil while enabling a new industry with an improved environmental impact. The Bioenergy Technology Office supports about $200 million in annual research funding in research, development, and demonstration activities through public-private partnerships across the entire bioenergy and bioproducts supply chain.
Renewable Electricity Generation/Renewable Power
Susan Hamm
Geothermal Technologies Office Director
Susan Hamm leads the Office's overall strategic, technical, and project oversight of cutting-edge technologies designed to advance geothermal as a key contributor to the U.S. energy portfolio. She partners with industry, academia, and DOE's national laboratories to establish geothermal energy as an economically competitive and widely available component of the U.S. energy supply.
Charlie Gay
Solar Energy Technologies Office Director
Charlie Gay leads a team that is responsible for driving research, manufacturing, and market solutions to make solar energy cost-competitive with other forms of energy by the end of the decade.
Jose Zayas
Wind Energy Technologies Office Director
Jose Zayas manages efforts to improve performance, lower costs, and accelerate deployment of wind technologies.
Jim Ahlgrimm
Water Power Technologies Office Director (Acting)
Jim Ahlgrimm manages efforts to improve performance, lower costs, and accelerate deployment of water power technologies.
Energy Efficient Homes, Buildings, and Manufacturing
David Nemtzow
Building Technologies Office Director
David Nemtzow leads the Building Technologies Office to create a self-sustaining market for building energy efficiency, including advancing technologies, promoting highly efficient buildings and homes, and accelerating the adoption of building codes and equipment standards.
Timothy Unruh
Federal Energy Management Program Office Director
Tim Unruh oversees the implementation of policy and actions that result in energy efficiency implementation, renewable energy adoption, and reduction in energy and water use in federal government operations.
Mark Johnson
Advanced Manufacturing Office Director
Mark Johnson is the Director of the Advanced Manufacturing Office, which focuses on creating a fertile innovation environment for advanced manufacturing, enabling vigorous domestic development of new energy-efficient manufacturing processes and materials technologies to reduce the energy intensity and life-cycle energy consumption of manufactured products.
Anna Garcia
Weatherization and Intergovernmental Programs Office Director
Anna Garcia provides leadership to maximize the benefits of energy efficiency and renewable energy through technology deployment, accessing new partnerships and resources, and communications and outreach activities.
Strategic Program Leaders
Karla Olsen
Communications Director
Karla Olsen leads EERE's corporate communications team in managing EERE's web enterprise, traditional and social media presence, executive and internal communications activities, public awareness activities, inquiries and correspondence, and other related efforts.
Robert Sandoli
International Director
Rob Sandoli manages EERE bilateral and multilateral partnerships and projects, develops new international collaborations, and coordinates international efforts with other DOE offices, federal agencies, and international organizations.
Kyle Winslow
Legislative Affairs Director
Kyle Winslow partners with DOE's Office of Congressional Affairs, the Chief Financial Officer, and the budget office to serve as the primary liaison between EERE technology offices and congressional authorizing committees. His office also provides corporate guidance on congressional interaction and strategic advice on legislation relevant to EERE.
Victor Kane
National Laboratory Impact Initiative Director
Victor leads EERE's Lab Impact Initiative, focusing on the development and implementation of uniform policies and programs to accelerate the commercial impact of the Department of Energy's national laboratories.
Danielle Deane-Ryan
Stakeholder Engagement Director (Acting)
Danielle Deane-Ryan is the Acting Director of Stakeholder Engagement, promoting EERE's coordination and interaction with key external stakeholders to create opportunities to advance EERE's mission.
Johanna Wolfson
Technology-to-Market Director
Johanna Wolfson directs EERE's Technology-to-Market Program to address challenges in moving new energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies into the marketplace.
Support Office Leaders
Office of Financial Management
Karen Ray/Jay Nathwani
Budget Director
As Acting Budget Directors, Karen Ray and Jay Nathwani lead the development of EERE's corporate budget and oversee how it is executed. They share this position until a permanent director is named.
Business Operations
Scott Hine
Project Management and Coordination Director
Scott Hine is responsible for informing and facilitating unified and highly effective EERE corporate planning and program implementation through the identification and deployment of active project management policies, procedures, best practices, and lessons learned.
Jennifer Blankenheim
Workforce Management Office Director
Jennifer Blankenheim and her team are the lead for coordination with the Office of Human Capital, in addition to diversity, workforce strategy, talent management, facilities, and administrative support. All of these functions provide essential support to EERE's corporate business processes and mission.
Derek Passarelli
Golden Field Office Director
Derek Passarelli leads EERE staff in Golden, Colorado in moving toward a low-carbon, energy-secure economy. He oversees Golden’s operations and support functions, as well as the management and operation contract with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
John W. Meeker
Procurement Operations Division Director
John Meeker oversees three Golden Field Office areas that provide the necessary business services to support EERE offices, programs, and national laboratories conducting EERE work.
Timothy J. Meeks
Field Operations Division Director
Timothy Meeks oversees three Golden Field Office areas that provide the necessary business services to support EERE offices, programs, and national laboratories conducting EERE work.
Bindu Jacob
Information Technology Services Office Director
Bindu Jacob oversees EERE's Information Technology Services Office, providing information technology and business management systems support and ensuring IT investments are aligned, integrated, effective, and responsive to the organization's needs.
Special Initiatives
Robert Graham
EV Everywhere Director
As Director of EV Everywhere, Robert Graham is responsible for the DOE's initiatives to increase market penetration of plug-in electric vehicles.