ACTING UNDER SECRETARY OF ENERGY ARUN MAJUMDAR LEAVING DOE

Acting Under Secretary of Energy Arun Majumdar, who also serves as director of Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, will leave the Department of Energy next month, DOE Secretary Steven Chu announced in an e-mail to employees yesterday. DOE Assistant Secretary for Policy and International Affairs David Sandalow took over Majumdar’s duties as Acting Under Secretary of Energy yesterday, while Deputy Director of Technology Eric Toone will lead ARPA-E starting June 9. “As Acting Under Secretary of Energy, Arun has spearheaded efforts to create game changing programs that bring together the best and brightest across the Applied Offices, ARPA-E, and Office of Science to solve our greatest energy challenges. These programs include SunShot as well as ‘Tech Teams’ for Carbon Capture and Utilization, Grid, Batteries, and Biofuels,” Chu wrote. “Arun has been an invaluable resource to me, to the Department, and to the Administration, and we will miss his leadership.” Majumdar was nominated to fill the Under Secretary position last fall but had not yet been confirmed. The Administration is expected to seek a new candidate to nominate to the post, which has not been held in a permanent capacity since 2010.