On March 4, 2013, President Barrack Obama announced the nominations of Gina McCarthy for Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), and Ernest Moniz for Secretary of the Department of Energy (“DOE”).  If confirmed, Ms. McCarthy will replace Administrator Lisa Jackson, while Dr. Moniz will succeed Secretary Steven Chu.

Ms. McCarthy is currently the Assistant Administrator for the EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation, a position she has held since 2009.  Prior to joining the EPA, Ms. McCarthy served as the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, and in various positions at the state and local level.  Ms. McCarthy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Anthropology from the University of Massachusetts at Boston, and a joint Master of Science in Environmental Health Engineering and Planning and Policy from Tufts University.

Dr. Moniz is currently a professor of Physics and Engineering, Director of the Energy Initiative, and Director of the Laboratory for Energy and the Environment at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  Additionally, Dr. Moniz served as the Under Secretary of DOE from 1997 until 2001, and as the Associate Director for Science in the Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Executive Office of the President from 1995 until 1997.  Dr. Moniz holds a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Boston College, and a Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics from Stanford University.

Upon receipt of the nominations, the U.S. Senate will refer the nominations to their respective committees.  From there, the committees will most likely hold hearings on the nominees and may choose to report on the nominations favorably, unfavorably, without recommendation, or take no action at all.  Senate confirmation requires a simple majority vote.

A copy of the White House press release is available here.