Candice Robertson Selected as EM-1

The selection of Candice Robertson as the acting Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management (EM-1) is a very good choice for the EM program.  DOE is appointing someone with years of experience in the program both working on specific projects and running programs from a senior level.  Candice has worked closely with the local, state and tribal governments, the unions and workforce at the sites, the contractors, the citizen advisory boards, all of the regulators, universities, citizen activists,  and others.  She will bring a wealth of knowledge to the program.  We are looking forward to  continuing to work closely with Candice.

Below is the message from the Secretary on the appointment:  

Please join me in congratulating Ike White, who was recently nominated by the President to serve on the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB). While he awaits confirmation to the DNFSB, Ike will serve as a Senior Advisor, applying his expertise across DOE's critical missions.

We cannot thank Ike enough for his leadership, vision, and dedication. Under Ike’s leadership, EM has made significant progress advancing liquid waste treatment systems, including reaching agreement with the state of Washington and the US Environmental Protection Agency on a realistic and efficient path forward for Hanford’s tank waste mission, completing construction of the facilities supporting Hanford’s Direct Feed Low-Activity Waste Treatment approach and beginning the first large-scale treatment of radioactive and chemical tank waste at the Tank-Side Cesium Removal System at Hanford, as well as beginning operations at the Savannah River Site’s Salt Waste Processing Facility, completing demolition at Oak Ridge’s East Tennessee Technology Park, making it the first site in the world to remove an entire uranium enrichment complex, and finishing demolition of Portsmouth’s X-326 uranium process building, a two-story structure covering 56 acres that was critical in the cleanup and transformation of the Gaseous Diffusion Plant. During Ike’s tenure, EM developed and implemented its annual Priorities Scorecard summarizing achievements and engaged Tribal Nations, stakeholders, and communities to define a 10-year Strategic Vision outlining planned accomplishments over the next decade.

Candice Robertson will take over Ike’s responsibilities, and I am confident she will maintain the strong momentum of progress built over the past five years. Candice has over 20 years of experience in radioactive waste management and is well versed in EM’s mission, previously serving as the EM Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and as an Associate Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, as well as DOE’s Chief Human Capital Officer, and as a Chief of Staff at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Prior to federal service, Candice served as an elected Nye County Commissioner, which hosts the Nevada National Security Site. Candice’s deep commitment to working with Congress, states, Tribes, communities, and stakeholders in executing the EM cleanup mission safely and effectively, coupled with her demonstrated ability to lead all aspects of the EM program make her the ideal choice for this role.

Please join me in thanking Ike for his significant contributions and welcoming Candice into this new role.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Granholm

Secretary of Energy

ECA would like to thank Ike White for his leadership and contributions and we are looking forward to work with Candice in this new role!