Former Packard Foundation Board member, Franklin “Lynn” Orr has been nominated by President Obama to be Under Secretary for Science, Department of Energy. Lynn has championed the Foundation’s Fellowships in Science and Engineering program for the past 25 years, while serving in many leadership roles at Stanford University.
As Under Secretary for Science, Orr would oversee all of the energy and science research programs of the Department of Energy, which includes the majority of the national laboratories. Orr told the Stanford Report this week, “I am very much honored to be considered for the position of Under Secretary for Science at DOE. Providing the energy the world needs to support modern societies and at the same time reducing the impacts of energy use are central challenges for this century,” Orr said. “DOE is a critically important sponsor of energy research for the nation, and I look forward to the opportunity to help strengthen that effort. I am very grateful to my many Stanford student and faculty energy colleagues for all they have taught me about the importance of the energy challenge and the opportunities we have to change our energy systems in a very positive way.” If Orr’s appointment is confirmed by the U.S. Senate, he will retire from Stanford to accept the post.
