Melissa Klembara is Deputy Director for the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) at the U.S. Department of Energy. In this role, she leads programs that accelerate the deployment of advanced energy and manufacturing technologies, supporting the Department’s mission to drive innovation and economic growth across the United States.
With more than 20 years of public-sector experience, Klembara has managed multi-billion-dollar portfolios and spearheaded strategic initiatives that unlock private-sector investment and foster innovation across the U.S. industrial and energy landscape. Her leadership has been instrumental in advancing the commercialization of innovative technologies and strengthening public-private partnerships.
Prior to her current role, Klembara served as Director of Portfolio Strategy at OCED, overseeing the design and execution of commercial and pilot-scale demonstrations. Klembara is recognized for her expertise in strategy and program management, cross-sector collaboration, and advancing the scale-up of innovative technologies that drive economic benefits for the U.S. She led DOE’s Pathways to Commercial Liftoff report series for OCED, covering topics such as advanced nuclear, industrial, and hydrogen, and is recognized for her role in OCED’s demonstration projects and prize programs.
She holds a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from the University of Maryland, a master’s degree in business administration, and a master’s degree in science in energy from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland.