Don’t be surprised to see acting Assistant Energy Secretary for Environmental Management James Owendoff continue to lead the Energy Department’s nuclear cleanup program for several more months, a longtime industry observer told Weapons Complex Monitor this week.
“I think they have got a clean slate at DOE on EM-1 candidates,” the source said.
Owendoff, a longtime DOE hand who most recently served as a senior adviser for EM, in June became both acting assistant secretary and principal deputy assistant secretary in the Office of Environmental Management. He took over from prior acting EM chief Sue Cange.
The source said the Trump administration for now is happy to have Owendoff run the roughly $6 billion annual environmental remediation of DOE’s nuclear weapons legacy. It is unlikely anyone will be nominated and confirmed by the Senate to the EM post until 2018, according to the observer.
Only two new political appointees are in place at DOE: Energy Secretary Rick Perry and his deputy, Dan Brouillette. Two energy undersecretary nominees are awaiting confirmation from the Senate, while the administration has yet to nominate any assistant secretaries for the department.
The source also noted that Owendoff seems to be well-regarded and is a retired Air Force officer. Retired military personnel appear to have particular cache with the Trump administration, the source added.
DOE did not immediately respond to a phone call and email seeking comment on the EM-1 nomination.
Earlier this summer, Atkins executive Alan Parker voluntarily withdrew his name from consideration as a candidate for the position, industry sources said earlier in August.
The Office of Environmental Management has not had a permanent assistant secretary since Obama-era appointee Monica Regalbuto stepped down following President Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Shortly after being named acting assistant secretary, Owendoff started a 45-day program review to identify ways to improve the cleanup program.
