Office of Science and Technology Policy#Directors

{{Infobox government agency

|agency_name = Office of Science and Technology Policy

|seal = US-OfficeOfScienceAndTechnologyPolicy-Seal.svg

|seal_width = 140

|formed = {{start date and age|1976|5|11}}

|preceding1 = Office of Science and Technology

|headquarters = Eisenhower Executive Office Building
725 17th Street NW, Washington, D.C., U.S.

|employees = 130

|chief1_name = Michael Kratsios

|chief1_position = Director

|parent_agency = Executive Office of the President

|website = {{url|whitehouse.gov/ostp|WhiteHouse.gov/OSTP}}

}}

The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) is a department of the United States government, part of the Executive Office of the President (EOP), established by United States Congress on May 11, 1976, with a broad mandate to advise the president on the effects of science and technology on domestic and international affairs.

The director of this office is traditionally colloquially known as the science advisor to the president. A recent appointed director was mathematician and geneticist Eric Lander who was sworn in on June 2, 2021.{{Cite web|title=White House science advisor Eric Lander sworn in on Pirkei Avot published in 1492|url=https://www.jta.org/quick-reads/white-house-science-advisor-eric-lander-sworn-in-on-pirkei-avot-published-in-1492 |date=June 2, 2021 |access-date=June 2, 2021 |website=Jewish Telegraphic Agency|language=en-US}} Lander resigned February 18, 2022, following allegations of misconduct.{{Cite web|last=Thompson|first=Alex|title='I am deeply sorry for my conduct': Biden's top science adviser apologizes to staff|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/02/04/eric-lander-science-adviser-biden-apologize-00005988|access-date=2022-02-08|website=POLITICO|language=en}}

On February 16, 2022, the Biden administration announced that deputy director Alondra Nelson would serve as acting director and former National Institutes of Health (NIH) director Francis Collins would serve as acting science advisor. Both assumed positions on February 18, 2022. In October 2022, Arati Prabhakar became Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy.{{cite web|title=White House unveils 'AI bill of rights' as 'call to action' to rein in tool|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/10/04/white-house-unveils-ai-bill-rights-call-action-rein-tool/|website=washingtonpost.com|access-date=2022-10-05}}{{cite web|title=Senate Confirms Prabhakar to Lead White House Science Office|url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/health-law-and-business/senate-confirms-prabhakar-to-lead-white-house-science-office|website=bloomberglaw.com|access-date=2022-10-05}} The most recent Michael Kratsios became Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy on March 25, 2025.{{cite news |date=March 25, 2025 |access-date=March 25, 2025 |url=https://fedscoop.com/senate-confirms-michael-kratsios-white-house-ostp-director/ |first=Madison |last=Alder |title=Senate confirms Michael Kratsios to lead White House science, technology office}}

History

= 20th century =

File:Gerald Ford A9732 (1976-05-11) A.jpg

President Richard M. Nixon eliminated the President's Science Advisory Committee after his second Science Advisor, Edward E. David Jr., resigned in 1973, rather than appointing a replacement. In 1975, the American Physical Society president Chien-Shiung Wu met with the new president Gerald Ford to reinstate a scientific body of advisors for the executive branch and the president, which President Ford concurred to do.{{cite book |last=Chiang |first=Tsai-Chien |date=January 2013 |title=Madame Wu Chien-shiung: The First Lady Of Physics Research |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r30GCwAAQBAJ&q=ford |publisher=World Scientific |pages=184–185 |isbn= 9789814579131}} The United States Congress then established the OSTP in 1976 with a broad mandate to advise the President and others within the Executive Office of the President on the effects of science and technology on domestic and international affairs. The 1976 Act also authorizes OSTP to lead inter-agency efforts to develop and to implement sound science and technology policies and budgets and to work with the private sector, state and local governments, the science and higher education communities, and other nations toward this end.

= 21st century =

Under President Donald Trump, OSTP's staff dropped from 135 to 45 people.{{cite news |title=Donald Trump's science office is a ghost town |first=Jacqueline |last=Alemany |date=November 21, 2017 |work=CBS|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trumps-science-office-is-a-ghost-town/}} The OSTP director position remained vacant for over two years, the longest vacancy for the position since the office's founding.{{cite journal |last1=Morello |first1=Lauren |title=Wait for Trump's science adviser breaks modern-era record |journal=Nature |date=October 24, 2017 |doi=10.1038/nature.2017.22878 }}{{cite news |title=Trump's war on science isn't what you think |first=Peter |last=Aldhouse |date=January 18, 2017 |work=CBS|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/peteraldhous/trumps-war-on-science-isnt-what-you-think}}{{cite journal|last1=Reardon |first1=Sara |last2=Witze |first2=Alexandra |date=July 31, 2018 |title=The wait is over: Trump taps meteorologist as White House science adviser |journal=Nature |volume=560 |issue=7717 |pages=150–151 |bibcode=2018Natur.560..150R |doi=10.1038/d41586-018-05862-y |pmid=30087470 |doi-access=}} Kelvin Droegemeier, an atmospheric scientist who previously served as the vice president of research at the University of Oklahoma, was nominated for the position on August 1, 2018{{Cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/2018/8/1/17639314/trump-science-adviser-kelvin-droegemeier-ostp|title=Trump finally picked a science adviser. He's a meteorologist. Named Kelvin.|first=Umair|last=Irfan|date=August 1, 2018|website=Vox}} and confirmed by the Senate on January 2, 2019.

Michael Kratsios was nominated by President Trump to be the fourth Chief Technology Officer of the United States and associate director of OSTP in March 2019{{Cite web|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-intent-nominate-personnel-key-administration-post-12/|title=President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Personnel to a Key Administration Post|language=en-US|via=National Archives|work=whitehouse.gov|access-date=August 5, 2019}} and was unanimously confirmed by the Senate on August 1, 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fedscoop.com/kratsios-us-cto-confirmation/|title=Michael Kratsios confirmed as US CTO |last=Chappellet-Lanier |first=Tajha |date=August 1, 2019|website=Fedscoop|access-date=August 4, 2019}} During Trump's tenure, Droegemeier also managed the National Science and Technology Council.

President Joe Biden named, and the Senate later unanimously confirmed,{{Cite web|title=Eric Lander Confirmed for Top White House Science Post {{!}} Inside Higher Ed|url=https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2021/06/01/eric-lander-confirmed-top-white-house-science-post|access-date=June 2, 2021|website=www.insidehighered.com|language=en}} Eric Lander as head of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, while also upgrading the position to a cabinet-level post.{{cite news |title=Biden elevates science post to level |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/biden-elevates-science-post-to-cabinet-level/ar-BB1cNvlu?ocid=ob-fb-enus-1541512262291&fbclid=IwAR1jnRlzICHnCaormPSaRBEdAZ9lvnnSJ3D1zEziPPk2SV_hHViysFvyRbA |access-date=January 15, 2021 |work=msn.com |agency=AFP |publisher=Yahoo News |date=January 15, 2021}} Lander resigned in February 2022 following reports that engaged in abusive conduct against both subordinates and other White House officials.{{Cite web |date=February 7, 2022 |title=White House science adviser resigns after probe found he bullied staffers |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/593217-white-house-science-adviser-resigns-after-internal-probe-found-he}}

In 2022, The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy held a roundtable discussion with some of the nation’s leading scientists to discuss the need to combat the climate crisis and counter arguments for delaying climate action. It is the first time that the White House has recognized scientists who study the climate denial operation run by the fossil fuel industry.{{cite news |last1=Joselow |first1=Maxine |date=February 24, 2022 |title=White House science office to hold first event on countering climate change denial and delay |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2022/02/24/white-house-science-office-hold-first-ever-event-countering-climate-change-denial-delay/}}

On August 8, 2022, President Joe Biden signed into law the CHIPS and Science Act which included a provision to create a blockchain and cryptocurrency specialist advisory position under the OSTP to be established and appointed by the Director.{{Cite web |last=Ryan |first=Tim |date=2022-08-09 |title=Text - H.R.4346 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Supreme Court Security Funding Act of 2022 |url=http://www.congress.gov/ |access-date=2022-09-06 |website=www.congress.gov}}

On August 25, 2022, OSTP issued guidance to make all federally funded research in the United States freely available without delay.{{Cite web|url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/ostp/news-updates/2022/08/25/ostp-issues-guidance-to-make-federally-funded-research-freely-available-without-delay/|title=OSTP Issues Guidance to Make Federally Funded Research Freely Available Without Delay | OSTP|date=August 25, 2022|website=The White House}}{{Cite news |last=Patel |first=Vimal |date=2022-08-26 |title=White House Pushes Journals to Drop Paywalls on Publicly Funded Research |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/25/us/white-house-federally-funded-research-access.html |access-date=2022-09-02 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

Staff

Key positions vary among administrations and are not always published online.{{Cite web|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/cea/staff/|via=National Archives|work=whitehouse.gov|title=Staff}}

Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and OSTP Director: Arati Prabhakar
Deputy Assistant to the President for Cancer Moonshot and OSTP Deputy Director for Health Outcomes: Danielle Carnival
Special Assistant to the President and OSTP Chief of Staff and Deputy Director for Strategy: Asad Ramzanali{{Cite web |title=White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Announces New Chief of Staff {{!}} OSTP |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/ostp/news-updates/2022/11/15/white-house-office-of-science-and-technology-policy-announces-new-chief-of-staff/ |access-date=2022-12-18 |website=The White House |language=en-US}}
Special Assistant to the President and OSTP Principal Deputy Director for Science, Society, and Policy: Kei Koizumi
Special Assistant to the President and OSTP Deputy Director for National Security: Stephen Welby
Special Assistant to the President and Principal Deputy U.S. Chief Technology Officer and OSTP Deputy Director for Technology: Karen Kornbluh{{Cite news |last=Egan |first=Lauren |date=July 30, 2024 |title=What if Harris cleans house? |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/west-wing-playbook/2024/07/30/what-if-harris-cleans-house-00171948 |work=Politico}}
OSTP Deputy Director for Climate and Environment: Jane Lubchenco
OSTP Deputy Director for Industrial Innovation: Justina Gallegos
OSTP Deputy Chief of Staff: Jack Cumming
OSTP Director of Communications: Jackie McGuinness
OSTP Director of Legislative Affairs: Alexandrine De Bianchi

Directors

List of OSTP directors.{{cite web |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/administration/eop/ostp/about/leadershipstaff/previous |via=National Archives |work=whitehouse.gov |title=Previous Science Advisors (1973–2009)}}

class="toccolours"

|{{legend|#E6E6AA|Denotes acting capacity.}}

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
{{Abbr\|No.\|Number}} !class=unsortable \|Image !Name !Start !End !class="unsortable"\|{{abbr\|Ref.\|References}} !colspan=2 \|President
1 \|70px \|{{sortname\|Guyford\|Stever}} \|August 9, 1976 \|January 20, 1977 \| \|style="background: {{party color\|Republican Party (United States)}};" \| \|{{sortname\|Gerald\|Ford}} (1974–1977)
2 \|70px \|{{sortname\|Frank\|Press}} \|January 20, 1977 \|January 20, 1981 \| \|style="background: {{party color\|Democratic Party (United States)}};" \| \|{{sortname\|Jimmy\|Carter}} (1977–1981)
bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \|– \|bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \|70px \|bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \|{{sortname\|Benjamin\|Huberman}} {{small\|Acting}} \|bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \|March 5, 1981 \|bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \|August 1981 \|bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \| \|rowspan=5 style="background: {{party color\|Republican Party (United States)}};" \| \|rowspan=5 \|{{sortname\|Ronald\|Reagan}} (1981–1989)
3 \|70px \|{{sortname\|Jay\|Keyworth\|George A. Keyworth II}} \|August 1981 \|December 1985 \|
bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \|– \|70px \|{{sortname\|John\|McTague\|nolink=1}} {{small\|Acting}} \|January 1986 \|May 23, 1986 \|
bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \|– \|70px \|{{sortname\|Richard\|Johnson\|nolink=1}} {{small\|Acting}} \|May 24, 1986 \|October 1, 1986 \|
4 \|70px \|{{sortname\|William\|Graham\|William Robert Graham}} \|October 2, 1986 \|June 1989 \|
bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \|– \|bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \|70px \|bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \|{{sortname\|Thomas\|Rona\|Thomas P. Rona}} {{small\|Acting}} \|bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \|June 1989 \|bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \|August 1989 \|bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \| \|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color\|Republican Party (United States)}};" \| \|rowspan=3 \|{{sortname\|George H. W.\|Bush}} (1989–1993)
bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \|– \|70px \|{{sortname\|William\|Wells\|nolink=1}} {{small\|Acting}} \|August 1989 \|August 1989 \|
5 \|70px \|{{sortname\|Allan\|Bromley\|D. Allan Bromley}} \|August 1989 \|January 20, 1993 \|
6 \|70px \|{{sortname\|Jack\|Gibbons\|John H. Gibbons (scientist)}} \|January 20, 1993 \|April 3, 1998 \| \|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color\|Democratic Party (United States)}};" \| \|rowspan=3 \|{{sortname\|Bill\|Clinton}} (1993–2001)
bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \|– \|70px \|{{sortname\|Kerri-Ann\|Jones}} {{small\|Acting}} \|April 4, 1998 \|August 3, 1998 \|
7 \|70px \|{{sortname\|Neal\|Lane\|Neal Francis Lane}} \|August 4, 1998 \|January 20, 2001 \|
bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \|– \|bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \|70px \|bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \|{{sortname\|Rosina\|Bierbaum}} {{small\|Acting}} \|bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \|January 21, 2001 \|bgcolor="#e6e6aa" nowrap \|September 30, 2001 \|bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \| \|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color\|Republican Party (United States)}};" \| \|rowspan=3 \|{{sortname\|George W.\|Bush}} (2001–2009)
bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \|– \|70px \|{{sortname\|Clifford\|Gabriel\|nolink=1}} {{small\|Acting}} \|October 1, 2001 \|October 28, 2001 \|
8 \|70px \|{{sortname\|Jack\|Marburger\|John Marburger}} \|October 29, 2001 \|January 20, 2009 \|
bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \|– \|bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \|70px \|bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \|{{sortname\|Ted\|Wackler\|nolink=1}} {{small\|Acting}} \|bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \|January 20, 2009 \|bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \|March 19, 2009 \|bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \| \|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color\|Democratic Party (United States)}};" \| \|rowspan=2 \|{{sortname\|Barack\|Obama}} (2009–2017)
9 \|70px \|{{sortname\|John\|Holdren}} \|March 19, 2009 \|January 20, 2017 \|{{cite web \|url=https://cra.org/govaffairs/blog/2009/03/holdren-confirmed-as-ostp-director/ \|title=Holdren Confirmed as OSTP Director \|date=March 20, 2009 \|first=Melissa \|last=Norr \|work=Computing Research Association}}
bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \|– \|bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \|70px \|bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \|{{sortname\|Ted\|Wackler\|nolink=1}} {{small\|Acting}} \|bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \|January 20, 2017 \|bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \|January 11, 2019 \|bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \|{{Cite magazine \|url=https://eos.org/features/trump-administration-moving-closer-to-picking-science-director \|title=Trump Administration Moving Closer to Picking Science Director \|first=Randy \|last=Showstack \|date=July 27, 2017 \|magazine=Eos \|doi=10.1029/2017EO078569}} \|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color\|Republican Party (United States)}};" \| \|rowspan=2 \|{{sortname\|Donald\|Trump}} (2017–2021)
10 \|70px \|{{sortname\|Kelvin\|Droegemeier}} \|January 11, 2019 \|January 20, 2021 \|{{cite web \|url=https://spacepolicyonline.com/news/droegemeier-officially-sworn-in-as-ostp-director/ \|title=Droegemeier Officially Sworn In As OSTP Director \|first=Marcia \|last=Smith \|date=February 11, 2019 \|work=SpacePolicyOnline}}
bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \|– \|bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \|70px \|bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \|{{sortname\|Kei\|Koizumi\|dab=science policymaker}} {{small\|Acting}} \|bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \|January 20, 2021 \|bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \|June 2, 2021 \|bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \| \|rowspan=4 style="background: {{party color\|Democratic Party (United States)}};" \| \|rowspan=4 \|{{sortname\|Joe\|Biden}} (2021–2025)
11 \|70px \|{{sortname\|Eric\|Lander}} \|June 2, 2021 \|February 18, 2022 \|{{cite web \|url=https://www.washington.edu/federalrelations/2021/06/03/ostp-director-confirmed-sworn-in/ \|title=OSTP Director Confirmed, Sworn In \|date=June 3, 2021 \|work=University of Washington}}{{cite web \|url=https://www.aip.org/fyi/2022/science-advisor-eric-lander-resigns-disgrace \|title=Science Advisor Eric Lander Resigns in Disgrace \|date=February 8, 2022 \|first=William \|last=Thomas \|work=American Institute of Physics}}
bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \|– \|70px \|Alondra Nelson {{small\|Acting}} \|February 18, 2022 \|October 3, 2022 \|{{cite web \|last=Ward \|first=Myah \|title=Biden names 2 people to replace Eric Lander in top science roles \|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/02/16/eric-lander-biden-replacements-00009625 \|access-date=2022-02-17 \|work=Politico \|language=en \|date=February 16, 2022}}
12 \|70px \|{{sortname\|Arati\|Prabhakar}} \|October 3, 2022 \|January 20, 2025 \|
bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \|– \|rowspan=2 \|70px \|rowspan=2 \|Michael Kratsios \|bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \|January 20, 2025 \|bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \|March 25, 2025 \|bgcolor="#e6e6aa" \|{{cite web \|url=https://cra.org/govaffairs/blog/2025/01/trump-names-ostp-leadership/ \|title=President-Elect Trump Names OSTP Director and Other High Level Science & Tech Policy Staff \|date=January 2, 2025 \|first=Brian \|last=Mosley \|work=Computing Research Association}} \|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color\|Republican Party (United States)}};" \| \|rowspan=2 \|{{sortname\|Donald\|Trump}} (2025–present)
13 \|March 25, 2025 \|present \|{{cite web \|url=https://fedscoop.com/senate-confirms-michael-kratsios-white-house-ostp-director/ \|title=Senate confirms Michael Kratsios to lead White House science, technology office \|first=Madison \|last=Alder \|date=March 25, 2025 \|work=FedScoop}}

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

!class=unsortable |Image

!Name

!Start

!End

!class="unsortable"|{{abbr|Ref.|References}}

!colspan=2 |President

Office of Science and Technology Policy#Directors

History

= 20th century =

= 21st century =

Staff

Directors

See also

References

External links