WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced new Biden-Harris Administration appointees joining the DOE team to help combat climate change and help the U.S. achieve President Biden’s ambitious clean energy goals. With these new hires and recent promotions, DOE appointees continue to make up an historically diverse team with 61% women, 54% people of color, and 19% of staff identifying as LGBTQ+. 

“DOE is ecstatic to welcome these diverse, hardworking individuals who are eager to deliver on President Biden’s bold climate and clean energy goals,” said Chief of Staff Tarak Shah. “Alongside these new staff, we are proud to announce we have also promoted two appointees for their exceptional contributions and passion in service to the Administration and the country. Our appointees are already hard at work implementing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to provide American families a prosperous, equitable clean energy future.” 

New appointees and their roles are listed below: 

Jennifer Bumgarner, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs 

Jennifer Bumgarner was most recently Senior Regional Director for the Southeast with Energy Foundation, where she led a team working to advance equitable climate and clean energy solutions across a 14-state region. Prior to her tenure at Energy Foundation, Bumgarner was Assistant Secretary for Energy with the North Carolina Department of Commerce, where she administered more than $275 million in federal funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and led efforts to integrate clean energy into the state's economic development strategy. She also served as a Policy Advisor to Governor Michael F. Easley and as a Policy Advisor and Deputy Policy Director to Governor Beverly Eaves Perdue. A native North Carolinian, Bumgarner holds a B.A. in Politics from Wake Forest University and a Master of Science in Social Policy from the University of Oxford in Oxford, United Kingdom, where she studied as a Rhodes Scholar. 

Rose Dady, Regional Intergovernmental and External Affairs Specialist for the Midwest, Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs 

Rose Dady was most recently Director of Grants Administration for the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office in Detroit, Michigan. Immediately prior, she was the District Director for Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence in Michigan’s 14th Congressional District. She also served as the Michigan Coalitions Director for the Biden-Harris campaign. She has dedicated her career to implementing grassroots solutions for marginalized groups throughout Michigan, specifically in translating organizational objectives into actionable plans. Dady is known for building coalitions to develop more resilient communities with equitable opportunity and access. 

Crystal Kay Perkins, Regional Intergovernmental and External Affairs Specialist for the South Central U.S., Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.  

Perkins was most recently a strategy and fundraising consultant for progressive campaigns and organizations. She served as the South Central Regional Finance Director for Biden for President and the Presidential Inaugural Committee. Before joining the Biden campaign, she served as Executive Director of the Texas Democratic Party. She has experience in fundraising and management roles on all levels of government, federal, state and local. She previously held positions at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). She grew up on the south side of San Antonio, TX and graduated from Texas State University. 

Appointees taking on new roles at DOE are listed below: 

Charisma L. Troiano, Press Secretary, Office of Public Affairs 

Charisma L. Troiano was most recently the Deputy Press Secretary in the Office of Public Affairs. She previously served as Director of Communications for Democracy Forward, a public interest litigation firm fighting against corruption in government policymaking. Previously, she served as Press Secretary for the late Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson.  

Born into a proud family of immigrants, Troiano started her career as a legal journalist for the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. She lives with her husband and splits time between Brooklyn and Washington, D.C. Troiano is a graduate of Vassar College and New York Law School. 

Becca Ward, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Senate Affairs, Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs 

Becca Ward was most recently the Legislative Advisor in the Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs. She previously served as the Managing Director of the Clean Energy Leadership Institute, a national organization dedicated to creating new energy leadership for an equitable, resilient, and decarbonized energy ecosystem. Previously, she served as U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley's Legislative Assistant working on energy, climate, and transportation policy. Ward is from Portland, Oregon, and received her B.A. in Public Policy and Energy Technologies from Duke University.