Derek Passarelli is currently the Principal Deputy Under Secretary (PDUS) for Science & Innovation at the U.S. Department of Energy. As PDUS, he leads day-to-day management and oversight for a $15 billion portfolio of activities across DOE’s Office of Science, Applied Energy Programs and 13 National Laboratories, the premier engines of scientific discovery and clean energy innovation. Mr. Passarelli’s portfolio includes the DOE teams leading the Energy Earthshots Initiative and Science & Energy Crosscuts, and the Under Secretary’s senior advisors coordinating DOE activities in fusion energy, critical materials, carbon removal and research security.
With over 23 years of experience at DOE, Mr. Passarelli most recently served as the Golden Field Office (GFO) Director within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), and prior to that in a variety of leadership positions for EERE, including Senior Advisor to EERE’s Assistant Secretary, Director of EERE’s Business Services division, GFO Chief Counsel, Human Resources Director, and GFO Deputy Director. He graduated from Stanford University and the Georgetown University Law Center.