Dr. Steven Chu is the current Secretary of Energy for United States in the Obama administration. He is a former co-winner for the Nobel Prize in Science (1997) and professor at the University of California and Stanford University. Here is Obama's quote for choosing Dr. Chu:

"The future of our economy and national security is inextricably linked to one challenge: energy. Steven has blazed new trails as a scientist, teacher, and administrator, and has recently led the Berkeley National Laboratory in pursuit of new alternative and renewable energies. He is uniquely suited to be our next Secretary of Energy as we make this pursuit a guiding purpose of the Department of Energy, as well as a national mission."

Dr. Steven Chu is the U.S. Secretary of Energy, sworn into office in January 2009.  Chu holds 10 patents and has published almost 250 scientific papers, and is a co-winner of the Nobel Prize for Physics.  He has shown a penchant for 'big picture' thinking, conducting research and brainstorming on ways to reduce global warming and our worldwide carbon emissions like white roofs to reflect sunlight back into space and a glucose-based economic system to replace our current oil-based system.