The Federal Science Leadership Tracker is an index of high-level federal officials that have responsibility for appropriating funds, setting policy, or managing programs relevant to the physical sciences. The tracker currently contains information about the chairmen and ranking members of selected congressional committees as well as selected Senate-confirmed positions and other leadership positions at key agencies.
This resource is updated on an ongoing basis as new leaders emerge, current appointees depart, and nominees make their way through the Senate confirmation process. Additional committees, agencies, and leadership positions may be added in the future.
If you have any questions or comments about this resource, please email fyi [at] aip.org.
Executive Branch Leaders: Trump Administration | Obama Administration
Congressional Leaders: 115th Congress | 114th Congress
White House
Senate-Confirmed Positions*
Current Occupant | Nominee | Actions |
---|---|---|
Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy
Vacant
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Associate Director, Energy and Environment
Vacant
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Associate Director, National Security and International Affairs
Vacant
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Associate Director, Science
Vacant
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Associate Director, Technology
Vacant
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* The law that created OSTP authorizes the director to appoint "no more than four" associate directors, which "shall perform such functions as the director may prescribe." The associate director titles listed are those used by the Obama administration. |
DOE
Selected Senate-Confirmed Positions
Current Occupant | Nominee | Actions |
---|---|---|
Secretary of Energy
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Nomination: 01/2017 Hearing: 01/2017 Committee Vote: 01/2017 Floor Vote: Confirmed by vote of 62-37 on 03/02/2017 |
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Deputy Secretary
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Nomination: 04/2017 Hearing: 05/2017 Committee Vote: 06/2017 Floor Vote: Confirmed by vote of 79-17 on 08/03/2017 |
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Under Secretary of Energy
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Nomination: 07/2017 Hearing: 07/2017 Committee Vote: 08/2017 Floor Vote: Confirmed by voice vote on 11/02/2017 |
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Under Secretary for Science
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Nomination: 07/2017 Hearing: 07/2017 Committee Vote: 08/2017 Floor Vote: Confirmed by voice vote on 11/02/2017 |
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Director, Office of Science
![]() Steve Binkley (Acting)
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Director, Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy
Vacant |
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Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
![]() Daniel Simmons (Acting)
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Assistant Secretary, Nuclear Energy
![]() Edward McGinnis (Acting)
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Assistant Secretary, Fossil Energy
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Nomination: 09/2017 Hearing: 09/2017 Committee Vote: 10/2017 Floor Vote: Confirmed by voice vote on 11/02/2017 |
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Assistant Secretary, Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability
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Nomination: 09/2017 Hearing: 09/2017 Committee Vote: 10/2017 Floor Vote: Confirmed by voice vote on 10/05/2017 |
National Nuclear Security Administration
Current Occupant | Nominee | Actions |
---|---|---|
Administrator
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Nomination: 12/2017 Hearing: 02/2018 Committee Vote: 02/2018 Floor Vote: Confirmed by voice vote on 02/15/2018 |
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Principal Deputy Administrator
Vacant
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Deputy Administrator, Defense Programs
![]() Phillip Calbos (Acting)
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![]() |
Nomination: 02/2018 |
Deputy Administrator, Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation
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Nomination: 02/2018 Hearing: 03/2018 Committee Vote: 03/2018 Floor Vote: Confirmed by voice vote on 03/22/2018 |
NASA
Selected Senate-Confirmed Positions
Current Occupant | Nominee | Actions |
---|---|---|
Administrator
![]() Jim Bridenstine
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Nomination: 09/2017 Hearing: 11/2017 Committee Vote: 11/2017 Renomination: 01/2018 2nd Committee Vote: 01/2018 Floor Vote: 50-49 |
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Deputy Administrator
Vacant
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Other Leadership Positions
Associate Administrator, Science Mission Directorate
![]() 2016–
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Chief Scientist
![]() Gale Allen (Acting)
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Astrophysics Director
![]() 2012–
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Planetary Science Director
![]() 2006–
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Earth Science Director
![]() 2006–
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Heliophysics Director
Margaret Luce (acting)
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NSF
Senate-Confirmed Positions
Current Occupant | Nominee | Actions |
---|---|---|
Director*
![]() 2014–
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Deputy Director
Vacant
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*Note: The NSF director is appointed for a six-year term. |
Other Leadership Positions
National Science Board Chair
![]() 2016–
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National Science Board Vice Chair
![]() 2016–
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Math & Physical Sciences Director
![]() 2018–
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Geosciences Director
![]() 2017–
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Computer & Information Science & Engineering Director
![]() 2014–
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Engineering Director
![]() 2017–
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Biological Sciences Director
![]() Joanne Tornow (Acting)
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Social, Behavioral, & Economic Sciences Director
![]() 2014–
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Education & Human Resources Director
![]() William (Jim) Lewis (Acting)
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NIH
Senate-Confirmed Positions
Current Occupant | Nominee | Actions |
---|---|---|
Director
![]() 2009–
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President Trump announced on 06/06/2017 that Francis Collins, who was appointed by President Obama, would continue to serve as NIH director. |
NOAA/NIST
Selected Senate-Confirmed Positions
Current Occupant | Nominee | Actions |
---|---|---|
NOAA Administrator
![]() Timothy Gallaudet (Acting)
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![]() |
Nomination: 10/2017 Hearing: 11/2017 Committee Vote: 12/2017 Renomination: 01/2018 2nd Committee Vote: 01/2018 |
Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere
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Nomination: 09/2017 Hearing: 09/2017 Committee Vote: 10/2017 Floor Vote: Confirmed by voice vote on 09/05/2017 |
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Assistant Secretary for Environmental Observation and Prediction
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Nomination: 09/2017 Hearing: 11/2017 Committee Vote: 11/2017 Floor Vote: Confirmed by voice vote on 02/15/2018 |
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NIST Director
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Nomination: 09/2017 Hearing: 09/2017 Committee Vote: 10/2017 Floor Vote: Confirmed by voice vote on 10/05/2017 |
Other Leadership Positions
NOAA Chief Scientist
![]() Craig McLean (Acting)
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NOAA Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research
![]() 2015–
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NIST Associate Director for Lab Programs
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DOD
Selected Senate-Confirmed Positions
Current Occupant | Nominee | Actions |
---|---|---|
Under Secretary for Research and Engineering
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Nomination to be principal deputy under secretary of defense for AT&L: 10/2017 Nomination to be under secretary of defense for research and engineering: 12/2017 Hearing: 01/2018 Committee vote: 01/2018 Floor Vote: Confirmed by voice vote on 02/15/2018 |
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Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering
New Position
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![]() Lisa Porter
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Nomination: 03/2018 |
Assistant Secretary for Research and Engineering
![]() Mary Miller (Acting)
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Under Secretary for Acquisition and Sustainment
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Nomination: 06/2017 Hearing: 07/2017 Floor Vote: Confirmed by voice vote on 08/01/2017 |
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Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisition
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Nomination: 09/2017 Hearing: 11/2017 Floor Vote: Confirmed by voice vote on 11/16/2017 |
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Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition
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Nomination: 01/2018 Hearing: 01/2018 Committee vote: 01/2018 Floor Vote: Confirmed by voice vote on 02/15/2018 |
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Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics
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Nomination: 10/2017 Hearing: 11/2017 Floor Vote: Confirmed by voice vote on 12/20/2017 |
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Assistant Secretary for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense Programs
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Nomination: 07/2017 Hearing: 11/2017 Floor vote: Confirmed by voice vote on 11/16/2017 |
Other Leadership Positions
DARPA Director
![]() 2017–
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Air Force Office of Scientific Research Director
![]() 2016–
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Naval Research Lab Commanding Officer
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Chief of Naval Research
![]() 2016–
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Army Research Lab Director
![]() 2017–
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Basic Research Office Director
Vacant
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DOI
Selected Senate-Confirmed Positions
Current Occupant | Nominee | Actions |
---|---|---|
Assistant Secretary for Water and Science
Timothy Petty
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Nomination: 11/2017 Hearing: 12/2017 Floor Vote: Confirmed by voice vote on 12/21/2017 |
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USGS Director
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Nomination: 01/2018 Hearing: 03/2018 Floor Vote: Confirmed by voice vote on 04/09/2018 |
State
Selected Senate-Confirmed Positions
Current Occupant | Nominee | Actions |
---|---|---|
Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
![]() Judith Garber (Acting)
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Other Leadership Positions
S&T Adviser to the Secretary of State
Vacant
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Deputy Assistant Secretary for Science, Space, and Health
![]() 2011–
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