SC’s New Associate Director for Fusion Energy Sciences

Dear colleagues:

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Jean Paul Allain will join the Department of Energy Office of Science (SC) as the Associate Director (AD) for Fusion Energy Sciences (FES), effective July 1, 2023. Dr. Allain assumes leadership of FES at a crucial time, as advances toward commercial fusion energy are being fueled by unprecedented scientific and technological accomplishments, as well as private capital investments. The Administration’s Bold Decadal Vision for Commercial Fusion Energy further accelerates the urgency to close the remaining scientific and technological gaps toward achieving a fusion pilot plant.

As Director of FES and in coordination with DOE leadership, Dr. Allain will work with both the national and international fusion and plasma science communities to define and realize a bold and exciting vision for fusion energy and plasma sciences for the Office of Science. He will lead the FES program, whose mission is to provide the underpinning scientific foundations required to develop a fusion energy source and which advances the Energy Act of 2020 FES authorization to support the development of a competitive U.S. fusion power industry. Further, he will promote and support participation in international activities, such as the ITER project, and pursue international collaborations across related topics of plasma science, fusion science, fusion engineering science and technology, and high energy density plasma science to foster innovation and optimal utilization of program resources.  

As the lead representative for the Office of Science for FES, Dr. Allain will work closely with domestic and international leaders in fusion science and technology to establish strategic partnerships, leverage research infrastructure, and accelerate fusion energy development. Dr. Allain will support and expand efforts in plasma science and technology and their industrial impact, forging new partnerships with key technology industrial sectors. He will leverage FES programmatic elements to support research toward fusion energy development and design, construction, and operation of major scientific user facilities.

We welcome Dr. Allain and look forward to the leadership and vision he will bring to the Office of Science and Department of Energy.

Sincerely,

Asmeret Asefaw Berhe
Director, Office of Science
U.S. Department of Energy

Harriet Kung
Deputy Director for Science Programs, Office of Science
U.S. Department of Energy

Juston Fontaine
Deputy Director for Operations, Office of Science
U.S. Department of Energy