Erik Olds serves as the acting manager of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management (OREM) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. He began this post in March 2025.
As OREM’s acting manager, Olds oversees the advancement of DOE’s environmental cleanup mission at the Y-12 National Security Complex, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and East Tennessee Technology Park. That mission is eliminating risks, enabling research and national security missions, and making cleaned land available for reuse.
Prior to this role, Olds joined OREM in 2024 as the organization’s deputy manager. He oversaw daily operations including deactivation and demolition, capital projects, waste management and waste processing, surveillance and maintenance programs, and procurement and contract functions.
He also previously served as communications director for DOE’s Office of Environmental Management headquarters (EM-HQ) and acting chief of staff for EM-HQ. Before his headquarters assignment, he was the Direct‐Feed Low‐Activity Waste deputy project integration manager for the Office of River Protection (ORP) at the Hanford Site in Washington.
Olds has also served as the chief of staff for both the Richland Operations Office and ORP at Hanford, as well as the ORP director of communications. Prior to working at Hanford, Olds worked in public affairs at the Yucca Mountain Project in Nevada.
He has worked for DOE for more than 30 years, including more than 20 years in the EM program.
Olds holds a bachelor's degree in public relations and a master’s degree in communications studies from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
