Mike Nartker, a former communications director at the Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management is now chief of staff, according to a new organizational chart posted online last Wednesday.
In the post, Nartker reports to DOE’s acting assistant secretary for environmental management (EM) William (Ike) White. In addition to supporting White and principal deputy assistant secretary Todd Shrader, the chief of staff also provides assistance and advice to senior EM managers on everything from operations to long-range planning, according to a mission and functions statement for the nuclear cleanup office.
In recent years, Nartker has served as EM’s chief strategist, communications director and the head of Congressional services. He joined DOE in October 2015 after being the editor of ExchangeMonitor Publications for more than two years.
As recently as June, the chief of staff job was held on an acting basis by Eric Olds, a veteran DOE manager who has held senior posts at both EM headquarters in Washington, D.C. and the Hanford Site in Washington state. Olds is now acting director of communications and was also named this month to serve as a senior adviser to Shrader.
“Erik has worked for DOE for more than 28 years, including over 20 years in the EM program,” Shrader said in a personnel announcement on Olds emailed to DOE staff Sept. 2 and viewed by Weapons Complex Monitor. Olds has previously worked in public affairs at the Yucca Mountain Project in Nevada for the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management. The Office of Environmental Management is advertising for a permanent communications director. Steve Clutter has been acting director of communications since April.
The current deputy chief of staff for EM is Allison Finelli, who has held senior level jobs with the cleanup office since joining DOE in June 2015. She previously worked with the Kutak Rock law firm.
