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: Trump Administration | Obama Administration
Congress: 116th | 115th | 114th
White House
Senate-Confirmed Positions*
| Current Occupant | Nominee | Actions |
|---|---|---|
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Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy
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Nomination: 08/2018 Hearing: 08/2018 Committee Vote: 09/2018 Floor Vote: Confirmed by voice vote on 01/02/2019 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|
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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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Nomination: 05/2018 Hearing: 06/2018 Committee Vote: 07/2018 Renominated: 01/2019 Committee Vote: 03/2019 |
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Director, Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy
John Vonglis (acting)
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Nomination: 07/2018 Hearing: 08/2018 Committee Vote: 08/2018 Renominated: 01/2019 Committee Vote: 03/2019 |
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Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
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Nomination: 06/2018 Hearing: 06/2018 Committee Vote: 07/2018 Floor Vote: Confirmed by voice vote on 01/02/2019 |
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Assistant Secretary, Nuclear Energy
 Edward McGinnis (acting)
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Nomination: 10/2018 Hearing: 10/2018 Committee Vote: 11/2018 Renominated: 01/2019 Committee Vote: 03/2019 |
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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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Nomination: 08/2018 Hearing: 11/2018 Renominated: 01/2019 Committee Vote: 03/2019 |
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Deputy Administrator, Defense Programs
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Nomination: 02/2018 Hearing: 05/2018 Committee Vote: 05/2018 Floor Vote: Confirmed by voice vote on 09/18/2018 |
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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
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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
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Nomination: 07/2018 Hearing: 08/2018 Committee Vote: 09/2018 Floor Vote: Confirmed by voice vote on 10/11/2018 |
Other Leadership Positions
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Associate Administrator, Science Mission Directorate
 2016–
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Chief Scientist
 2018–
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Astrophysics Director
 2012–
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Planetary Science Director
 Lori Glaze (acting)
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Earth Science Director
 Sandra Cauffman (acting)
2019–
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Heliophysics Director
 |
NSF
Senate-Confirmed Positions
| Current Occupant | Nominee | Actions |
|---|---|---|
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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
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National Science Board Chair
 2018–
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National Science Board Vice Chair
 2018–
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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
 2018–
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DOD
Selected Senate-Confirmed Positions
| Current Occupant | Nominee | Actions |
|---|---|---|
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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 for Research and Engineering
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Nomination: 03/2018 Hearing: 05/2018 Committee Vote: 05/2018 Floor Vote: Confirmed by 98-1 vote on 09/27/2018 |
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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 Committee Vote: 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 Committee Vote: 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 Committee Vote: 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 Committee Vote: 11/2017 Floor vote: Confirmed by voice vote on 11/16/2017 |
Other Leadership Positions
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Director for Research and Technology, USD(R&E)
 2018–
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Director for Advanced Capabilities, USD(R&E)
 2018–
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Principal Director for Research, USD(R&E)
 2014–
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DARPA Director
 2017–
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Air Force Office of Scientific Research Director
 2016–
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Air Force Chief Scientist
 2018–
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Naval Research Lab Commanding Officer
 2017–
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Chief of Naval Research
 2016–
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Army Research Lab Director
 2017–
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IARPA Director
 2018–
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NOAA/NIST
Selected Senate-Confirmed Positions
| Current Occupant | Nominee | Actions |
|---|---|---|
|
NOAA Administrator
 Neil Jacobs (acting)
|
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Nomination: 10/2017 Hearing: 11/2017 Committee Vote: 12/2017 Renomination: 01/2018 2nd Committee Vote: 01/2018 Renominated: 01/2019 |
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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
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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
 James Olthoff (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. |
DOI
Selected Senate-Confirmed Positions
| Current Occupant | Nominee | Actions |
|---|---|---|
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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 |
|---|---|---|
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Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
 Marcia Bernicat (acting)
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Assistant Secretary for International Security and Nonproliferation
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Christopher Ford |
Nomination: 10/2017 Hearing: 11/2017 Floor Vote: Confirmed by voice vote on 12/21/2017 |
Other Leadership Positions
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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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