Since 1985, the United States has set aside the first week of May to celebrate Public Service Recognition Week. This recognition honors the hardworking individuals serving our nation as federal, state, county, and local government employees.

At the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), we are privileged to share the inspiring stories of our employees. They demonstrate the power of taking action toward advancing clean energy technologies and building a more sustainable future. They also serve as shining examples of how anyone can become a Clean Energy Champion.

From May 8 to 12, 2023, EERE will introduce you to some of our outstanding public servants to learn why they serve. Below is a brief interview with Anne Marie Esposito, a technology manager in the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office.

Anne Marie Esposito (she/her/hers) 

Technology Manager, Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office
Washington, D.C.
1.5 years of public service

What drew you to public service? 
I wanted to make a tangible impact on communities. My work during my Ph.D. focused on creating materials that may have an impact in the future, and I wanted to see my work have real effects on the world right now. I also love working on teams and solving problems, and now I do that every day.

What does being in public service mean to you?  
Shaping the world we live in and making things better for as many people as possible.

What aspect of public service do you find most rewarding? 
I find information sharing and communication the most rewarding part of my job. I love when I can bring an important piece of information to someone that changes how they think or connects the dots to see the bigger picture. Bringing the right people together at the right time can lead to awesome action.

Can you describe the path that brought you to EERE/your career in clean energy?  
I was always interested in STEM throughout school. Once I reached the end of high school, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, and my mom said, “You could be like the CSI people on TV!” I started my undergraduate degree in forensic chemistry at Ohio University. After my undergraduate research experiences, I wanted to work on technologies that were closer to the environment and improving the earth. I pursued my Ph.D., looking for professors and schools that did clean energy or environmental chemistry research. I decided to attend the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to work on characterizing non-precious metal catalysts for hydrogen fuel cells. While completing my Ph.D., I participated in EERE’s Energy Storage internship program, developing models for carbon deposition in a thermophotovoltaic energy storage system. This was the first time I worked on problems that would influence systems being developed commercially. Upon completing my Ph.D., I was ready to step away from the lab. Through ORISE, I applied for the Hydrogen Shot Fellowship at the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office and was selected. Later, I was hired as a federal employee in the same office to build on the work I supported as a fellow.

What advice do you have for Clean Energy Champions who want to pursue careers in public service? 
You never know where you might make an impact in the world. Fellowships are a great way to get a feel for public service and understand the grand scope of the federal government. And talk to people! You never know who has that great opportunity just around the corner.

Clean Energy Jobs

EERE is hiring! Check out these career opportunities, and read more about jobs for Clean Energy Champions.