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. 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.
List of Secretaries of Energy
The first Secretary of Energy, James Schlesinger
Spencer Abraham, Secretary from 2001 to 2005
Democratic (6) Republican (8)
| No. |
Portrait |
Name |
State of residence |
Took office |
Left office |
Party |
President(s) |
|---|
| 1 |
 |
Schlesinger, James R.James R. Schlesinger |
Virginia |
August 6, 1977 |
August 23, 1979 |
Republican |
|
Carter, JimmyJimmy Carter |
|---|
| 2 |
 |
Duncan, Jr., Charles W.Charles W. Duncan, Jr. |
Texas |
August 24, 1979 |
January 20, 1981 |
Democratic |
|---|
| 3 |
 |
Edwards, James B.James B. Edwards |
South Carolina |
January 23, 1981 |
November 5, 1982 |
Republican |
|
Reagan, RonaldRonald Reagan |
|---|
| 4 |
 |
Hodel, Donald P.Donald P. Hodel |
Oregon |
November 5, 1982 |
February 7, 1985 |
Republican |
|---|
| 5 |
 |
Herrington, John S.John S. Herrington |
California |
February 7, 1985 |
January 20, 1989 |
Republican |
|---|
| 6 |
 |
Watkins, James D.James D. Watkins |
California |
March 1, 1989 |
January 20, 1993 |
Republican |
|
Bush, George H. W.George H. W. Bush |
|---|
| 7 |
 |
O'Leary, Hazel R.Hazel R. O'Leary |
Virginia |
January 22, 1993 |
January 20, 1997 |
Democratic |
|
Clinton, BillBill Clinton |
|---|
| 8 |
 |
Peña, Federico F.Federico F. Peña |
Colorado |
March 12, 1997 |
June 30, 1998 |
Democratic |
|---|
| 9 |
 |
Richardson, William B.William B. Richardson |
New Mexico |
August 18, 1998 |
January 20, 2001 |
Democratic |
|---|
| 10 |
 |
Abraham, SpencerSpencer Abraham |
Michigan |
January 20, 2001 |
February 1, 2005 |
Republican |
|
Bush, George W.George W. Bush |
|---|
| 11 |
 |
Bodman, SamuelSamuel Bodman |
Illinois |
February 1, 2005 |
January 20, 2009 |
Republican |
|---|
| 12 |
 |
Chu, StevenSteven Chu |
California |
January 20, 2009 |
April 22, 2013 |
Democratic |
|
Obama, BarackBarack Obama |
|---|
| 13 |
 |
Moniz, ErnestErnest Moniz |
Massachusetts |
May 21, 2013 |
January 20, 2017 |
Democratic |
|---|
| 14 |
 |
Perry, RickRick Perry |
Texas |
March 2, 2017 |
December 1, 2019 |
Republican |
|
Trump, DonaldDonald Trump |
|---|
| 15 |
 |
Brouillette, DanDan Brouillette |
Texas |
December 3, 2019 |
Present |
|
|---|
