Government Appointments

 | Introduction | Resource Library | Selected Positions |

IEEE-USA encourages IEEE members to seek and will support the appointment of engineers to government executive, regulatory, and advisory positions at the federal and state level. IEEE-USA believes that the appointment of qualified engineers helps to ensure the effective management of government technical programs and places engineers in positions where their unique insights can contribute to solving the problems that confront our technologically-complex society. This page provides information on key appointment opportunities and how member can obtain IEEE-USA's support for their appointments.

If you are an IEEE U.S. member interested in (or under consideration for) an appointment to a state or federal government position or would like to recommend an IEEE member for such an appointment, contact Chris Brantley, c.brantley@ieee.org for more information on how IEEE-USA can assist you.

A new administration needs to move quickly to identify and nominate highly qualified scientists and engineers to fill key positions - beginning with the assistant to the president for science and technology. - John McTague, director of OSTP in the Reagan Administration at a September 2000 public briefing at the National Academies of Science and Engineering

Resource Library

• IEEE-USA Government Appointments Program (Operational Guidelines)
• IEEE-USA Position Statement on Appointment of Engineers to Policy, Regulatory and Advisory Positions in Government
• 50 Most Urgent S&T Presidential Appointments (National Academy List)
• Web Guide to the Presidential Appointments Process (National Academies)
• The Presidential Appointments Process: Science & Technology in the National Interest (National Academies, 2000)
• List of Policy and Supporting Positions in the United States Government ("Plum Book")  (Alternative Site)
• The "Prune Book":   The 60 Toughest Science & Technology Jobs in Washington (1997)
• Science, Technology and the President (Carnegie Commission, 1988)
• Science and Technology Leadership in American Government:  Ensuring the Best Presidential Appointments (National Academies, 1992)
• The Merit and Reputation of an Administration: Presidential Appointees on the Appointments Process (Brookings Institution, 2000)
• Obstacle Course: The Report of the 20th Century Fund on the Presidential Appointment Process (20th Century Fund, 1996)
• Confirmation of Political Appointees:  Elicting Nominee's Views on Leadership and Management (GAO, Aug. 2000)

Selected Federal S&T Positions

IEEE-USA is actively interested in promoting the appointment of qualified engineers (especially IEEE members) to the following positions as vacancies occur:

U.S. Department of Commerce

• Under Secretary for Technology
• Deputy Under Secretary for Technology
• Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy
• Director, National Institute for Standards and Technology

U.S. Department of Defense

• Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology
• Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology
• Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Advanced Technology
• Director of Defense Research and Engineering

U.S. Department of Energy

• Under Secretary for Energy, Science and Environment
• Assistant Secretary of Energy for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
• Director, Office of Nuclear Energy, Science & Technology

National Aeronautics and Space Administrator

• Administrator

National Science Foundation

• Director
• Deputy Director
• Assistant Director, Computer and Information Science and Engineering
• Assistant Director, Engineering
• Member, National Science Board

White House Office of Science and Technology Policy

• Director (and Assistant to the President for Science and Technology)
• Associate Director, Technology
• Associate Director, Science
• President's Committee of Advisors on Science & Technology

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Last Update: 16 December 2004
Staff Contact: Chris Brantley, c.brantley@ieee.org