Statement by Energy Secretary Granholm on the Confirmation of Jill Hruby as NNSA Administrator

Washington, D.C. — Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm issued the following statement today after the U.S. Senate confirmed Jill Hruby with a bipartisan vote of 79-16 to serve as Under Secretary for Nuclear Security, and Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE): 

“I am so grateful to the Senate for confirming Jill Hruby to serve as the next Under Secretary for Nuclear Security and Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration. Jill is one of DOE’s very best success stories—rising through the ranks at Sandia National Labs to become the first woman to lead a national security lab, and now she'll lead our efforts to maintain a safe and reliable nuclear deterrent and protect our national security. She is a brilliant leader, a model public servant, and an inspiration to engineers and rising stars everywhere. I am thrilled to have her back at DOE to help keep our nation and our world safe.”

About Jill Hruby 

Jill Hruby is a mechanical engineer who joined Sandia National Laboratories as a member of the technical staff in 1983 and retired as the Laboratories Director in 2017 after a distinguished 34-year career. At Sandia, Hruby held roles of increasing management responsibilities with experiences in nuclear weapons systems and component design, nuclear non-proliferation, defense and homeland security technologies and systems, renewable energy, materials science, engineering sciences, and microsystems technology. She was the first woman to lead a national security lab. 

Since her retirement, Hruby served as the inaugural Sam Nunn Distinguished Fellow at the Nuclear Threat Initiative from 2018-2019. In addition, she has been a member of the Defense Science Board, the National Nuclear Security Administration Defense Programs Advisory Committee, and the National Academy of Science Committee for International Security and Arms Control. She has served on a variety of technical advisory committees and non-profit organization boards. She is a frequent participant in international dialogs; a spokesperson for women in engineering; and a mentor for emerging leaders.  

Hruby earned her bachelor’s degree from Purdue University and her master’s degree from the University of California at Berkeley, both in mechanical engineering. She has authored numerous publications and reports, holds three patents, and received an R&D 100 Award. In 2016, she received the Suzanne Jenniches Upward Mobility Award from the Society of Women Engineers. In 2017, Business Insider named her the second most powerful female engineer. Jill has received the Department of Energy Secretary’s Exceptional Service Award, the National Nuclear Security Administrator’s Distinguished Service Gold Award, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service.