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Person

Ernest Moniz

Nationality:

American
Occupation(s):

Theoretical Physicist

Secretary of Energy in the Obama Administration

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Ernest Moniz is a theoretical physicist who has served in various roles at the Department of Energy under Democratic presidential administrations, including as Secretary of Energy under President Barack Obama. Moniz later went on to leadership positions at several nonprofits and private companies focused on decarbonization initiatives, including organizations he co-founded. 1

Education and Academic Career

Ernest Moniz earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physics from Boston College and a Master of Science and Ph.D. in theoretical physics from Stanford. Moniz has also received nine honorary doctorates. 2

Moniz worked on the faculty of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) from 1973 to 2013. He was the head of the MIT Department of Physics from 1991 to 1995 and also in 1997. Moniz was the director of the Bates Linear Accelerator Center from 1983 to 1991. His research focused on developing a theoretical framework for understanding intermediate energy electron and meson interactions with atomic nuclei. After 2001, his focus shifted to energy policy, specifically technology and policy studies on enacting decarbonization initiatives. 3

Moniz has also served as the founding director of the MIT Energy Initiative and director of the MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment. He is also a non-resident senior fellow at Harvard Belfer Center. Moniz is an MIT Emeritus Professor and Special Adviser to President of MIT. 4

Government Career

From 1995 to 1997, Moniz served at the Department of Energy as associate director for Science in the Office of Science and Technology Policy. From 1997 to 2001, Moniz served as Undersecretary of Energy in the Clinton administration. Moniz worked on several international initiatives during these years, including the Megatons to Megawatts deal with Russia to blend down highly enriched uranium into nuclear reactor fuel. 5

From 2009 to 2013, Moniz served on President Barack Obama’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology and the Defense Threat Reduction Advisory Committee, where he stressed the need for a coherent and consistent energy policy and increased funding for research and development in energy-related programs. 6

Moniz was appointed as Secretary of Energy in 2013 by President Obama, serving in the position until 2017. The Senate confirmed Moniz in a unanimous vote, with Moniz promising an “all of the above” energy strategy in his confirmation hearing that would recognize the importance of oil and gas, nuclear, hydroelectric, wind, and solar energy technologies. Moniz’s tenure shifted Department of Energy efforts to left-leaning anthropogenic climate change initiatives, with a focus on phasing out coal-fired electricity generation. Moniz was a major proponent of the Paris Climate Accords signed by President Obama, and also served on the President’s Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future. 7 8

Moniz was heavily involved in the Obama administration’s controversial Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (Iran Deal), negotiating directly with Iranian delegates alongside then-Secretary of State John Kerry. The agreement lifted sanctions and unfroze Iranian assets, providing over $100 billion to Iran after implementation. President Donald Trump later withdrew the United States from the deal, arguing that the agreement was fundamentally flawed. 9 10

Organizations and Businesses

Moniz is the co-chairman of the board and CEO of Nuclear Threat Initiative, a D.C.-based nonprofit founded by former U.S. Senator Sam Nunn (D-GA) and philanthropist Ted Turner. Moniz was involved in the organization’s efforts to establish a low enriched uranium bank in Kazakhstan, which became operational in 2019. Warren Buffet contributed $50 million for the project through Nuclear Threat Initiative, with the United States government contributing another $50 million. 11 12

Moniz is president and CEO of the EFI Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to left-leaning decarbonization initiatives. EFI evolved from the Energy Futures Initiative founded by Moniz and two of his MIT colleagues. 13 14

Moniz is also CEO of EJM Associates LLC, a consulting firm specializing in decarbonization-related business strategies. 15

References

  1. “Faculty: Ernest Moniz.” MIT Department of Physics. Accessed May 27, 2024, https://physics.mit.edu/faculty/ernest-moniz/
  2. “Faculty: Ernest Moniz.” MIT Department of Physics. Accessed May 27, 2024, https://physics.mit.edu/faculty/ernest-moniz/.
  3. “Faculty: Ernest Moniz.” MIT Department of Physics. Accessed May 27, 2024, https://physics.mit.edu/faculty/ernest-moniz/.
  4. “Faculty: Ernest Moniz.” MIT Department of Physics. Accessed May 27, 2024, https://physics.mit.edu/faculty/ernest-moniz/.
  5. “Interview of Ernest Moniz by David Zierler.” Niels Bohr Library & Archives, American Institute of Physics. Accessed May 27, 2024, https://www.aip.org/history-programs/niels-bohr-library/oral-histories/47254.
  6. “Interview of Ernest Moniz by David Zierler.” Niels Bohr Library & Archives, American Institute of Physics. Accessed May 27, 2024, https://www.aip.org/history-programs/niels-bohr-library/oral-histories/47254.
  7. [A] “Faculty: Ernest Moniz.” MIT Department of Physics. Accessed May 27, 2024, https://physics.mit.edu/faculty/ernest-moniz/.
  8. Chandler, David L. “Celebrating the Homecoming of Ernest Moniz.” MIT News, March 17, 2017. Accessed May 28, 2024. https://news.mit.edu/2017/us-energy-secretary-ernest-moniz-returns-0317.
  9. “Interview of Ernest Moniz by David Zierler.” Niels Bohr Library & Archives, American Institute of Physics. Accessed May 27, 2024, https://www.aip.org/history-programs/niels-bohr-library/oral-histories/47254.
  10. Berenson, Tessa. “Trump Withdraws from Iran Nuclear Deal, Reinstates Sanctions.” Time, May 8, 2018. Accessed May 28, 2024. https://time.com/5269746/donald-trump-iran-nuclear-deal-macron/.
  11. “Interview of Ernest Moniz by David Zierler.” Niels Bohr Library & Archives, American Institute of Physics. Accessed May 27, 2024, https://www.aip.org/history-programs/niels-bohr-library/oral-histories/47254.
  12. “About NTI.” The Nuclear Threat Initiative. Accessed May 28, 2024. https://www.nti.org/about/.
  13. “Interview of Ernest Moniz by David Zierler.” Niels Bohr Library & Archives, American Institute of Physics. Accessed May 27, 2024, https://www.aip.org/history-programs/niels-bohr-library/oral-histories/47254.
  14. “About Us.” EFI Foundation. Accessed May 28, 2024. https://efifoundation.org/about-us/.
  15. “Team.” EJM Associates. Accessed May 28, 2024. https://ejmassociates.energy/team/.
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