On September 18, the Senate confirmed Darío Gil as Under Secretary of Science and Innovation for the Department of Energy. He was nominated by President Donald Trump on January 20, following the resignation of former Under Secretary of Science and Innovation, Geraldine Richmond. Gil previously served as the International Business Machines Corporation (IBM)’s Senior Vice President and Director of Research before stepping down prior to his confirmation.
Gil had been at IBM for over 20 years and had been appointed to his most recent position in 2019. Additionally, Gil previously held the position of Chairman of the National Science Board, which oversees the National Science Foundation, and he has served on the U.S. President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Gil received a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Stevens and his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT.
Now, in his new position, Gil will be responsible for overseeing the nation’s largest federal sponsor of basic research in the physical sciences, the research and development in nuclear, fossil, and renewable energy, and managing 13 of the 17 U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Laboratories and their facilities. Gil will also lead the continuation of the DOE’s Energy Earthshots initiative, which aims to transition to clean energy so as to solve the climate crisis, and to reach their 2050 net-zero carbon goals, as well as to create jobs in a new, clean energy economy.
Gil brings previous experience in directing research in AI, cloud, and quantum computing at IBM to this position. In the nomination hearing for this position, he mentioned exactly this and discussed how the United States needs to act to become more of a world leader in energy and technology development. “We are indeed in a great race in leading the energies of the future and the science and technology portfolio of the future so the stakes could not be higher,” stated Gil. He continues by asserting that the nation has the capability to succeed in this but that it starts with being clear on ambitions with energy and making sure the nation has a “secure, reliable, and affordable portfolio of energy sources.”
In an interview held this past year by Issues in Science and Technology, Gil again demonstrates his priorities in scientific advancement. “We have to continue to strive to make sure that both parties — and more broadly the American public — care deeply about making sure we succeed in science and technology as a nation,” he remarks.
His transition in this new position as Under Secretary of Science and Innovation, while a great opportunity to continue to have an impact on technological innovation of the future, was still an emotional one, as described in a LinkedIn post published by Gil the morning of his commitment. “I have nothing but gratitude for all the IBMers, partners, and clients with which I have had the privilege of working with during the last two decades,” he writes. He continues by stating how we are living in extraordinary times for science and technology, and that we are in the midst of a computing revolution. Gil closes with two sentences for viewers of the post to go forth with: “A lot more to come. Let’s get to work.”
