DOE PLACES NETL DIRECTOR ON ADMINSTRATIVE LEAVE

Tamar Hallerman
GHG Monitor
9/20/13

The National Energy Technology Laboratory experienced an upheaval in its top management late this week, when Director Anthony Cugini was placed on administrative leave for reasons that still remain unclear. Cugini was reportedly escorted off-site from NETL Sept. 18, and has since been replaced on an acting basis by Deputy Director Scott Klara. “I know you will all join me in giving Scott our full support,” Department of Energy Office of Fossil Energy Chief Operating Officer Serena McIlwain wrote in a Sept. 19 e-mail to employees. DOE, which owns and operates NETL, declined to comment on Cugini’s removal late this week, saying the Department does not comment on personnel issues. For its part, NETL did not respond to requests for comment.

The exact reason for Cugini’s removal as NETL director remains unclear, though according to several officials the action was taken as part of an ongoing DOE Inspector General investigation. In response to questions late this week, the IG declined to comment, saying it would neither confirm nor deny that an investigation was underway.

Prior to his appointment as Director in January 2010, Cugini served as Director of NETL’s Office of Research and Development. Cugini received B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in chemical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to joining NETL, he held positions at Pentek Inc. and Gulf Oil Corporation. Cugini also held the title of Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering from 1996 to 2006.