Sandalow had a head start in helping the Obama administration tackle America's oil dependency. Along with being an adviser on Obama's presidential campaign, Sandalow authored the 2008 book Freedom From Oil: How the Next President Can End the United States' Oil Addiction, which touted plug-in hybrid vehicles and other solutions. His extensive executive branch experience includes Clinton administration postings as assistant secretary of State for oceans, environment, and science; as senior director for environmental affairs at the National Security Council; and as associate director for the global environment at the White House Council on Environmental Quality. Sandalow, 52, simultaneously held a full-time post at the Brookings Institution and helped put the Clinton Global Initiative on the map. "To David's credit, CGI enjoys a global reputation directly because of his involvement from day one," said Brookings Deputy Director Ed Hughes. Earlier in his career, Sandalow was a senior adviser to Good Energies, a London-based venture capital firm investing in renewable-energy and energy-efficiency projects, and executive vice president with the World Wildlife Fund. Sandalow received a B.A. in philosophy from Yale College and a law degree from the University of Michigan.
Established: 1977
Address: 1000 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20585
Phone: 202-586-5000
2009 Budget: $70.1 billion
Employment: 15,597
Web Site: www.doe.gov
Functions: The Energy Department coordinates national activities relating to the production, regulation, marketing, and conservation of energy. It is also responsible for the federal nuclear weapons program and the high-risk research and development of energy technology. The department collects, analyzes, and publishes energy data.
