Carmelo Melendez, Director, U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Legacy Management

In December 2016, Carmelo Melendez was selected as the new Director for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Legacy Management (LM). As Director, he will provide the leadership to continue to fulfill the Energy Department’s post-closure responsibilities and ensure the future protection of human health and the environment.

Director Melendez comes to LM after serving as the Director of the Office of Asset Management within the DOE Office of Management and as the DOE Senior Real Property Officer. He has also served DOE within the Office of Environmental Management, the Office of Engineering and Construction Management, and the Office of Acquisition and Project Management. He was instrumental in carrying out several DOE Laboratory Operations Board initiatives, transferring several properties for community economic development, and improving the way DOE manages real property, personal property, and fleet property to support DOE’s field mission and national laboratories. He has been a career member of the Senior Executive Service, Vice Chairman of the National Academies’ Federal Facilities Council, and a member of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget’s Real Property Advisory Council.

Director Melendez retired as Commander in the U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps and has served in numerous positions in the U.S. Departments of Defense, Energy, and State, specializing in acquisition management, civil affairs, construction management, expeditionary engineering, facilities engineering, and financial management. He received a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Puerto Rico, a master of business administration in financial management from Southern New Hampshire University, a master of engineering in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Florida, and a doctoral engineer degree in engineering management from George Washington University.

Acting Director for LM, Thomas Pauling, has returned to his prior position as Deputy Director and is assisting Director Melendez in leading the LM team.