Brian Anderson

National Energy Technology Laboratory

Director

As director of the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Brian J. Anderson, Ph.D., manages the complete NETL complex, including delivery and execution of the Laboratory’s mission and national programs in carbon-based energy and program support to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Offices of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; Electricity; and Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response. Anderson leads NETL’s more than 1,300 employees and guides more than 1,000 R&D projects in 50 states with a total award value of $5 billion. As director, Anderson fosters strategic relationships with utility and academic institutions, state and local governments, and important carbon management stakeholders. Under Anderson’s leadership, NETL initiated critical technology development and deployment projects including direct air capture technologies for decarbonization, chemical looping combustion with potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and non-variable renewable energy for future low-carbon power systems. Anderson also guided the development and maturation of key technologies proven to have significant industry impact including microwave ammonia synthesis and carbon nanomaterials manufactured from coal. In April 2021, the Biden Administration named Anderson executive director of the Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization. In this role, Anderson strategically leverages NETL’s resources and expertise to help ensure the shift to a clean energy economy creates good-paying union jobs, spurs economic revitalization, remediates environmental degradation and supports energy workers in coal, oil and gas, and power plant communities across the country. Anderson is the recipient of the 2020 Federal Laboratory Consortium Laboratory Director of the Year award, and Secretary’s Honor Award and Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers for his research. Anderson earned his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering at West Virginia University and his master’s and doctorate in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.