WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., Chair of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, today applauded the confirmation of two nominees to serve in the Department of Energy. Dr. Franklin M. Orr, Jr. to be the Under Secretary for Science, and Joseph S. Hezir to be the Chief Financial Officer.

"I am pleased that nominations of Dr. Franklin M. Orr, Jr. and Mr. Joseph S. Hezir have been confirmed by the Senate today," Sen. Landrieu said. "I believe Dr. Orr and Mr. Hezir are well qualified and will each bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to their positions as Under Secretary for Science and Chief Financial Officer, respectively."

Dr. Orr is a professor of petroleum engineering at Stanford University, where he was the director of the Precourt Institute for Energy. As Under Secretary for Science, Dr. Orr will be responsible for overseeing all of the energy and science research programs at the Department of Energy, including the Offices of Science, Fossil Energy, Nuclear Energy, and Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

Mr. Hezir is a research engineer and the executive director of the Future of Solar Energy Study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Energy Initiative. He has also been the vice president and managing partner of the EOP Group, a consulting firm that provides advice on federal policy, regulatory, and budget issues. He previously worked for the Office of Management and Budget where he oversaw energy technology and energy regulatory programs. As the Chief Financial Officer of the Department of Energy, Mr. Hezir will oversee the Department of Energy’s budget administration and financial management.