United States Secretary of Energy

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
 Parties
 (7)  (9)

Status

No.PortraitNameState of residenceTook officeLeft officePartyPresident(s)129x129pxVirginiaRepublican(1977–1981)127x127pxTexasDemocratic132x132pxSouth CarolinaRepublican(1981–1989)100pxOregonRepublican125x125pxCaliforniaRepublican100pxCaliforniaRepublican(1989–1993)126x126pxVirginiaDemocratic(1993–2001)100pxPennsylvaniaDemocratic132x132pxColoradoDemocratic124x124pxNew MexicoDemocratic100pxMichiganRepublican(2001–2009)133x133pxIllinoisRepublican100pxCaliforniaDemocratic(2009–2017)100pxOhioDemocratic149x149pxMassachusettsDemocratic133x133px(2017–2021)129x129pxTexasRepublican100pxTexasRepublicanframeless|100pxDemocratic(2021–2025)frameless|125x125px|Secretary Jennifer GranholmMichiganDemocratic125x125pxRepublican (2025–present)100pxColoradoIncumbentRepublican

 Living former secreatries of energy 
As of September 2025, there are ten living former secretaries of energy, the oldest being Donald P. Hodel (served 1982-1985). The most recent death of a former secretary of state was that of Bill Richardson (served 1998-2001) on September 1, 2023.

References

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Category:1977 establishments in the United States