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Employee Resource Groups are a critical link between employees and senior management, connecting a diverse array of backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences to the Department’s diversity managers, Human Capital staff, and key decision-makers.  They support the personal growth and professional development of their members and they help develop programs and learning opportunities not only for themselves but for the rest of the workforce.

Employee Resource Groups have the pulse of their community and their constituents and work with management to develop and execute recommendations to solve mission related problems before they become large-scale issues. 

The Department of Energy supports participation in employee resource groups as a way to cultivate a supportive, welcoming, inclusive and equitable work environment.

Headquarters employees interested in receiving more information about employee resource groups should contact the group directly, using the information below.  Field employees should contact the relevant Diversity Program Manager at their site.  

For general inquiries about the Department’s existing employee resource groups please contact Michael Colbert, Office of Diversity & Inclusion at 202-586-1981. To learn about the requirements for starting a new group, check out the guidelines here.

Current Groups

Asian American Pacific Islander Network (AAPIN)

The Energy Asian American Pacific Islander Network is official DOE affinity group that serves as a focal point and advocate for DOE AAPI Federal staff.  AAPIN established and nurtured partnerships for the DOE with the Asian American Government Executives Network (AAGEN) and the Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC), two organizations that are actively working with and for federal AAPI employees. Since its conception, AAPIN has hosted a variety of events which have not only sparked interest from DOE’s AAPI community, but also support from the White House Initiative on Asian American and Pacific Islanders, community leaders and advocates, as well as the non-AAPI community. The mission of Energy AAPIN is two-fold. The first goal is to foster professional development among our community of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) employees at the Department of Energy by providing networking opportunities, social events, speaker panels, and training. Secondly, AAPIN strives to support DOE in addressing issues of diversity and workforce development. 

AAPIN provides opportunities for professional development and networking activities among members, serves  as a resource and a means of communication for members, DOE , and other interested individuals or groups, identifies and addresses  issues of concern from members and DOE, seeks  to educate policymakers, managers and other employees about such issues, and supports the DOE in the development and implementation of effective policies and practices to ensure equal opportunity and access for members in all departmental activities.

John Moon - John.Moon@em.doe.gov, 301-903-4482

Blacks in Government (BIG)

Blacks In Government (BIG) was established in 1975 and incorporated in 1976 by a small group of African Americans at the Public Health Services which is a part of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare in the Parklawn building in Rockville, Maryland. The organization was viewed as essential to the Black civil service employee, based on a wide assortment of racially motivated problems faced by the HEW Black employees in Rockville. Nonetheless, Blacks in Government was organized in 1975 and incorporated as a non-profit organization under the District of Columbia jurisdiction in 1976. BIG has been a national response to the need for African Americans in public service to organize around issues of mutual concern and use their collective strength to confront workplace and community issues. BIG’s goals are to promote EQUITY in all aspects of American life, EXCELLENCE in public service, and OPPORTUNITY for all Americans.

Vera Dunemore - Vera.Dunmore@hq.doe.gov, 202-586-4047

Community for the Advancement of Latinos at DOE (CALDOE)

The Community for the Advancement of Latinos at the Department of Energy, CALDOE, is an employee resource group at the U.S. Department of Energy and works in collaboration with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. CALDOE is a voluntary membership organization that aims to promote a culture of diversity and inclusion through continual learning. It provides opportunities to the Hispanic/Latino community by expanding agency outreach and services, serves as a link between Latino/Hispanic employees and senior management, and connects a diverse array of backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences to the Department’s key decision-makers.   

Edward Rios - Edward.Rios@hq.doe.gov, 202-287-5407

Disability Employment Task Force

Vacant

EnergyVets

Leah Ballard - Leah.Ballard@ee.doe.gov, 202-586-1934

Federally Employed Women (FEW)

Brenda Waters - 202-586-3173

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Employees & Allies (GLOBE)

GLOBE is an employee resource group for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) employees as well as their straight friends and allies. The mission of the DOE GLOBE Employee Resource Group (ERG) is to be a strategic partner with DOE to promote a culture of diversity and inclusion through continual learning. The DOE GLOBE ERG will advance the understanding and inclusion of employees with a common background, set of interests and/or goals. While this is an LGBTQ-focused group, everyone is welcome; all that is required is an open mind and a desire to belong.

Russell Ames - Russell.Ames@science.doe.gov, 202-586-1082

Tré Easton - Tre.Easton@hq.doe.gov, 202-586-3376

Native American Employees

Vacant 

Professional Opportunities for Women at Energy Realized (POWER)

Professional Opportunities for Women at Energy Realized - is an emerging Employee Resource Group at the Department of Energy headquarters. The Mission of POWER is to foster connections between female employees at DOE, while supporting professional and personal growth. We also aim to have a critical voice to advise leadership on policies and programs that impact women at the Department, and serve to reach out to other women and girls to enter careers in energy and STEM. We are currently in the process of becoming an official Department of Energy Employee Resource Group. POWER is open to all, and will especially focus on mentoring and providing leadership training and opportunities for DOE interns, fellows, contractors and employees and others connected with DOE, focused on women in the DOE workforc

Njema Frazier - Njema.Frazier@nnsa.doe.gov, 202-586-4021  

Women's Affinity Group

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory: Women Scientists and Engineers Council

Young Professionals Group (YPG)

The Mission of the Young Professionals Group is to foster connections between young professionals (18-40) at DOE, while supporting professional and personal growth opportunities for emerging leaders. YPG hopes to have a critical voice to advise leadership on policies and programs that impact young professionals. The Young Professionals Group is a valuable mechanism to: build a culture that fosters innovation; offer employees access to leadership opportunities; establish programs and activities aligned with the mission of DOE; and provide employees opportunities to develop and grow, and for managers to access innovative concepts and unique solutions to challenges faced by DOE. The Young Professionals at Energy ERG is open to all, and will especially focus on mentoring and providing leadership training and opportunities for DOE interns, fellows, contractors and employees and others connected with DOE, focused on ages 18-40.

Krystal Laymon - Krystal.Laymon@hq.doe.gov, 202-586-6724