Rita Baranwal served as the former

Assistant Secretary of Energy for Nuclear Energy Assistant may refer to: * Assistant (by Speaktoit), a virtual assistant app for smartphones * Assistant (software), a software tool to assist in computer configuration * Google Assistant, a virtual assistant by Google * The Assistant (TV series), ...

, the head of the

Office of Nuclear Energy The Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) is an agency of the United States Department of Energy which promotes nuclear power as a resource capable of meeting the energy, environmental, and national security needs of the United States by resolving techni ...

within the

United States Department of Energy The United States Department of Energy (DOE) is an executive department of the U.S. federal government that oversees U.S. national energy policy and energy production, the research and development of nuclear power, the military's nuclear w ...

. She was confirmed to that position by the Senate on June 20, 2019, sworn in on July 11, and served until January 2021. She previously served as the Director of the Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) initiative at

Idaho National Laboratory Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is one of the national laboratories of the United States Department of Energy and is managed by the Battelle Energy Alliance. Historically, the lab has been involved with nuclear research, although the labora ...

starting in that role in August 2016. She previously served as the Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President of Digital and Innovation for

Westinghouse Electric Company Westinghouse Electric Company LLC is an American nuclear power company formed in 1999 from the nuclear power division of the original Westinghouse Electric Corporation. It offers nuclear products and services to utilities internationally, includ ...

; currently serving as the Senior Vice President of AP300 SMR.

Education

Baranwal holds a bachelor's degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in materials science and engineering and a master's degree and PH.D. in the same discipline from the

University of Michigan The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...

Career

Prior to joining the US Department of Energy Baranwal was at Bechtel Bettis, Inc. as the Manager in Materials Technology where she managed research and development regarding advanced nuclear fuel materials for US Naval Reactors. She then worked at

in multiple roles including Director of Core Engineering, Manager of Materials and Fuel Rod Design, and the Director of Technology Development & Application. Since 2008 she has been an active American Nuclear Society (ANS) member and served as Vice Chair on the ANS Materials Science and Technology Division (MSTD) Executive Committee. She also served on the Board of Directors for North Hills Community Outreach.

References

External links

Rita Baranwal
{{DEFAULTSORT:Baranwal, Rita Year of birth missing (living people) Living people United States Department of Energy officials United States Department of Energy National Laboratories personnel American women engineers University of Michigan alumni 21st-century American women