The Department of Energy observes special emphasis months as reflected in the list below.  Observances are held annually and are designed for the purpose of providing cultural awareness to the Department. Commemorative activities conducted for these observances are educational and employment-related.

To watch the most recent DOE special observances, please click on the video links below.

Month Special Emphasis Program Videos Program Manager Email Address
January FY '23 Video: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Collette Bankins collette.bankins@hq.doe.gov
February FY '22 Video: Black History Month Charlie Carrasco charlie.carrasco@hq.doe.gov
March FY '22 Video: Women's History Month Program Charlie Carrasco charlie.carrasco@hq.doe.gov
May FY '22 Video: Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Program Collette Bankins collette.bankins@hq.doe.gov
June FY '21 Video: Pride Month Program  Charlie Carrasco charlie.carrasco@hq.doe.gov
October FY '23 Video: National Hispanic Heritage Month Collette Bankins collette.bankins@hq.doe.gov
October FY '22 Video: National Disability Employment Awareness Month Brad Shaff bradley.shaff@hq.doe.gov
November  FY '23 Video: National Native American Heritage Month Collette Bankins collette.bankins@hq.doe.gov

 

Photo Gallery: Selected Photos from Recent Special Observance Events

Special Emphasis Observances - Photogallery

1/12 LGBTQ Pride Month Celebration on June 19, 2019
Panelists Neil Schuldenfrei, Russell Ames, Jocelyn Richards, Colette Broussard and moderator Michael Kopalek.
Photo courtesy of
2/12 Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month on May 7, 2019
Marilyn Madarang, an attorney in the Litigation and Enforcement Division at the Department of Energy’s Office of General Counsel, served as host.
Photo courtesy of
3/12 Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 23, 2019
Keynote speaker Commissioner Rodney Ellis, Harris Country, Texas.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
4/12 Native American Heritage Month celebration on Nov. 29, 2018
Jody TallBear, attorney advisor, Office of Civil Rights, introduces the keynote speaker.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
5/12 Native American Heritage Month celebration on Nov. 29, 2018
Carrie L. Billy, president and CEO, American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC), delivers the keynote address.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
6/12 Black History Month Special Observance program on Feb. 20, 2018
Keynote speaker John W. Franklin, National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
7/12 Black History Month Special Observance program on Feb. 20, 2018
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
8/12 Black History Month Special Observance program on Feb. 20, 2018
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
9/12 Black History Month Special Observance program on Feb. 20, 2018
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
10/12 Women's History Month Special Observance program on March 8, 2018
Keynote speaker Melody C. Bell, associate deputy assistant secretary for resource management, Office of Environmental Management.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
11/12 Veterans Day Special Observance program on Nov. 13, 2018
Rizwan Shah, organizational culture advisor, the Office of Health, Safety and Security.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
12/12 Disability Employment Awareness Month in 2018
Keynote speaker Jennifer Sheehy, U.S. Department of Labor, and John Walsh, director of Talent Management, U.S. Department of Energy.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy