United States Secretary of Energy

Infobox US Cabinet
post = Unites States Secretary of Energy
insignia = US-DeptOfEnergy-Seal.svg
insigniasize = 140px
insigniacaption = Official Seal

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incumbent = Samuel Bodman
incumbentsince = February 1, 2005
first = James R. Schlesinger
formation = August 6, 1977
succession = Fifteenth
website = [http://www.doe.gov www.doe.gov] The United States Secretary of Energy is the head of the United States Department of Energy, a member of the President's Cabinet, and fifteenth in the Presidential line of succession. The post was created with the formation of the Department of Energy on October 1, 1977 by President Jimmy Carter's signing of the Department of Energy Organization Act. [ cite web|url=http://www.energy.gov/about/origins.htm|title=Origins|publisher=Department of Energy|accessdate=2007-07-29] The position was originally developed to focus on energy production and regulation. During the 1980s, the emphasis shifted to development of technology for better, more efficient energy sources as well as education regarding energy. As the Cold War ended, the department's efforts were more often devoted to nuclear waste disposal and maintenance of environmental quality. [cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/govt/admin/admin.htm|title=The Clinton Administration|publisher=Washington Post|accessdate=2007-07-29]

The first Secretary of Energy was former Secretary of Defense James Schlesinger, a Republican nominated to the post by Democratic President Jimmy Carter, the only time a president has appointed someone of another party to the post. Schlesinger was also the only secretary to be dismissed from the post. [ cite web|url=http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/secdef_histories/bios/schlesinger.htm |title=Biography of James Schlesinger Origins|publisher=Department of Defense|accessdate=2007-08-13] Bill Clinton's first Secretary of Energy, Hazel R. O'Leary, was the longest to hold the position, as well as its first female and African-American holder. [ cite web|url=http://www.fisk.edu/fisk_headlines/august/stories/oleary.htm|title=President Hazel R. O'Leary Honored by Urban League|publisher=Fisk University|accessdate=2007-08-13 ] Clinton also named Federico Peña to the post, the first Hispanic to hold the position. [ cite web|url=http://www.osti.gov/news/releases97/marpr/pr97015.html |title=Federico F. Peña to be Sworn in as the Eighth Secretary of Energy|publisher=Department of Energy|accessdate=2007-08-13 ] Bill Richardson, who succeeded Peña, was the second Hispanic to hold the position and later became Governor of New Mexico. [cite web|url=http://intl.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/280/5372/2040?ck=nck |title=Los Alamos Ally Gets Top DOE Post|publisher=Sciencemag.org|accessdate=2007-08-13 ] The current secretary, Samuel W. Bodman, has held the post since February 1, 2005.

List of Secretaries of Energy

References

;General
*cite web|url=http://www.energy.gov |title=Official site of U.S. Department of Energy|accessdate=2007-08-13 |publisher=U.S. Department of Energy
*cite web|url=http://www.energy.gov/news/4757.htm |title=Secretaries of Energy|accessdate=2007-08-13 |publisher=U.S. Department of Energy

;Specific