Various weapons complex officials advance

President Donald Trump has nominated several officials to lead key Department of Energy branches serving nuclear energy and the weapons complex, and some are making progress through the confirmation process. 

The nominees would report to the already confirmed Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. Exchange Monitor will update the nominees’ progress from time to time.

James Danly was nominated to be deputy secretary of energy on Jan. 22. Following a hearing, the Senate Energy & Natural Resources passed him out of committee on April 9. His nomination will subsequently be placed on the Senate calendar for a vote.

Preston Wells Griffith III, who has been nominated to become undersecretary of energy, testified before Senate Energy on April 10. He was nominated Jan. 20. 

Dario Gil, nominated to be undersecretary of energy for science, testified before Senate Energy & Natural Resources on April 10. He was nominated by the administration on Jan. 20. 

Brandon Williams was nominated to head the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) on Jan. 20. His nomination was forwarded to the Senate Armed Services Committee, which heard testimony from him April 8. If confirmed, his formal title will be undersecretary for nuclear security.

Theodore (Ted) Garrish was nominated on Feb. 3 to head the Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy and the nomination was forwarded to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. His title would be assistant secretary for nuclear energy.

Timothy John Walsh was nominated to head DOE’s Office of Environmental Management on March 10. The nomination was forwarded to both the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee. His title would be assistant secretary for environmental management.

No confirmation vote by the full Senate was scheduled for any of them as of 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, April 23.