Dr. Matt Heavner is Arctic Energy Office, Department of Energy, and Arctic community at large engage with the issues of
November 5, 2020
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I am honored and excited to join the Arctic Energy Office. The important national and global challenges in the Arctic motivate the re-establishment of the Arctic Energy Office. The Department of Energy has broad mission and responsibility along with the unique resources of its National Lab complex to address Arctic challenges, making this a very exciting time for the Arctic Energy Office.
Because physical, geopolitical, and socio-economic changes are occurring so rapidly in the Arctic, increased scientific coordination is needed to inform energy and security decisions. The Department of Energy and the Arctic Energy Office can bring broad capabilities, partnerships, and investments to address these needs. Driven by increasing access to the Arctic and the return to current competition among the great powers (as described in the 2017 National Security Strategy), interest in the security of the Arctic is growing.
The Department of Energy National Lab system is a unique national capability called upon to address large- scale, complex research and development challenges such as these with a multidisciplinary approach that places an emphasis on translating basic science into meeting complex mission goals. Building upon my experience at Los Alamos National Lab and in both Washington DC and Alaska, I am looking forward to the work of positioning the Arctic Energy Office to deliver both rapid and enduring contributions to the challenges we all face with increasing Arctic concerns.
I have lived in Alaska for more of my life than in any other state. I have a deep appreciation for the peoples, cultures, challenges, and opportunities in Alaska and the Arctic, and a great love of the North. Through my broad scientific background in academia and the Department of Energy, and 20+ years of professional national security work at Los Alamos and in other government roles, I will be working to support the Arctic Energy Office’s science and security focus areas.
Because, as the saying goes, “What happens in the Arctic doesn’t stay in the Arctic,” I’m looking forward to the opportunity to help the Arctic Energy Office, Department of Energy, and Arctic community at large engage with the issues of our day that are truly global.
Matt Heavner
Dr. Matt Heavner was a Senior Advisor to the Arctic Energy Office from 2020 - November 2023. Dr. Heavner came to the Arctic Energy Office from Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), where he is working again now as the Climate and Clean Energy Coordinator.
Dr. Heavner first joined LANL in 2000. Matt was a program manager focused on data science applied to critical national security and scientific challenges. Matt was the Assistant Director of Global Security at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) during 2014-2016. Matt led OSTP efforts on topics including Arctic, space, and a range of nuclear issues. In partnership with the National Security Council, Matt co-chaired multiple White House restricted Interagency Policy Coordination committees. At LANL, Matt served as the project leader for nuclear test ban verification sensors on the Global Positioning Satellite constellation. From 2003-2010, Matt was a Professor of Physics at the University of Alaska Southeast with diverse geophysical interests. Matt earned his PhD in Physics from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and his bachelor degrees in Physics, Mathematics, and Philosophy from Southwestern University.