Department of Energy
Council Member: Dr. Steven Chu, Secretary of Energy
Webpage: http://diversity.doe.gov/women.htm
Council Designee: Neile L. Miller, Principal Deputy Administrator for the National Nuclear Security Administration
Neile L. Miller is the Principal Deputy Administrator for the National Nuclear Security Administration in August 2010. As the second-highest ranking official, she is the NNSA’s Chief Operating Officer and is responsible for integrating strategic and tactical planning, programming, budgeting, acquisition, business management, leadership development, infrastructure management, information technology, cyber security, and project management across the NNSA Nuclear Security Enterprise.
Ms. Miller has a wealth of experience in nuclear energy, defense policy and financial analysis. She got her start at the Congressional Research Service working on nuclear nonproliferation issues. In 1987, she joined the White House Office of Management and Budget as the program examiner for DOE’s radioactive waste management programs and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. She subsequently returned to OMB in 2004 to serve as a senior program examiner in the National Security Division of OMB, where she was responsible for overseeing NNSA programs and the Defense Department’s Cooperative Threat Reduction program.
Within the Department of Energy, Ms. Miller has held several leadership positions prior to this appointment, including Director of Budget for the Department from 2007 to 2010. Earlier in her career she was the Associate Director for Resource Management in the Office of Nuclear Energy, and also Associate Director of International Nuclear Cooperation in the Office of Nuclear Energy.
In the private sector, Ms. Miller worked for Cogema, Inc. and as a consultant, with clients that included DOE, Sandia National Laboratory, and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany. She also served as policy and communications officer in the Nuclear Energy Agency of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris.
Ms. Miller earned her undergraduate degree in political science from Vassar College and her Masters degree in International Affairs from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service.
Council Designee: Bill Valdez, Acting Director of the Office of Economic Impact & Diversity
Mr. Valdez is the Acting Director of the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity (ED). He also concurrently serves as the Director of the Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists (WDTS) within the Department of Energy's Office of Science.
Mr. Valdez's career with the Department of Energy spans over 16 years, providing him with extensive knowledge in the areas of workforce development, budget planning, diversity and equal opportunity issues, science policy, corporate and strategic planning, and contract management. Mr. Valdez plays a pivotal role in setting overall strategic direction for DOE's diversity, minority education, and small business initiatives and activities.
Mr. Valdez plans to work with Department program offices to develop a corporate funding strategy for minority institutions to ensure that faculty and students at these institutions are provided with opportunities to participate in DOE activities in the areas of research and development, but also to encourage the competitiveness of minorities in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Through workforce development initiatives, internships, traineeships, fellowships and other partnership activities at these institutions, the Department will address the growing need for a diverse, talented scientific workforce. Mr. Valdez will also ensure that ED's civil rights and small business responsibilities address ongoing DOE and national needs.
Mr. Valdez was awarded the Presidential Rank Award (meritorious) in 2007, was elected as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2006, and is currently the Vice Chair of the Senior Executive Association’s Board of Directors.
Mr. Valdez received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas and his Master of Arts in International Economics and Energy Policy from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
