Jill Hruby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jill Hruby
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| Under Secretary of Energy for Nuclear Security Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration |
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| In office July 26, 2021 – January 20, 2025 |
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| President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | William Bookless |
| Succeeded by | TBD |
| Personal details | |
| Education | Purdue University (BS) University of California, Berkeley (MS) |
Jill M. Hruby is an American engineer and government leader. She is known for her work in nuclear security. From 2021 to 2025, Jill Hruby served as a top official. She was the Under Secretary of Energy for Nuclear Security. She also led the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). This is a very important job in the U.S. government.
Jill Hruby made history in 2015. She became the first woman to lead a U.S. nuclear weapons lab. This lab was called Sandia National Laboratories. She was the director there until 2017.
Early Life and Education
Jill M. Hruby was born in 1959. She grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She loved science and engineering from a young age.
She went to Purdue University College of Engineering. There, she earned her first degree in mechanical engineering. Later, she studied at the UC Berkeley College of Engineering. She earned her master's degree there, also in mechanical engineering.
Career Highlights
Jill Hruby started her career at Sandia National Laboratories in 1983. She worked there for many years. She held many different leadership roles. Her work included designing nuclear weapons systems. She also worked on stopping the spread of nuclear weapons.
She helped develop technologies for homeland security. She also worked on renewable energy. In 2015, she became the director of Sandia Labs. This made her the first woman to lead a national security lab. She retired from Sandia in 2017.
In 2021, President Joe Biden chose Jill Hruby for a big job. He nominated her to lead the National Nuclear Security Administration. This agency manages the U.S. nuclear weapons program. It also works to prevent nuclear threats.
The United States Senate had to approve her for this role. After hearings and a vote, the Senate confirmed her. She officially started her new job on July 26, 2021.
Awards and Achievements
Jill Hruby has received many important awards. These awards recognize her hard work and leadership.
In 2016, she won the Suzanne Jenniches Upward Mobility Award. This award came from the Society of Women Engineers. In 2017, Business Insider magazine named her. They called her the second most powerful female engineer.
She has also received awards from the U.S. government. These include the Department of Energy Secretary's Exceptional Service Award. She also got the National Nuclear Security Administrator's Distinguished Service Gold Award.
In 2022, she was chosen for the National Academy of Engineering. This is a very high honor for engineers. Her old university, Purdue University, gave her an honorary doctorate in 2022. In 2023, Michigan State University also gave her an honorary Doctor of Science degree. They recognized her leadership in nuclear security.
