Dr. Susan Hamm serves as the Geothermal Technologies Office Director for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). She brings to EERE a wealth of experience in operations, budget, and management, as well as a strong background in geological sciences. In her new role, she leads efforts to improve performance, lower costs, and accelerate deployment of geothermal technologies to help secure America's clean energy future.

She previously served as the Directorate Operations Officer for the National Science Foundation's Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate, managing human capital, space, and budget for a 178-person, $1.3-billion organization.  She served as a senior advisor to the Assistant Director on these and other policy issues.

Before serving the Foundation, Dr. Hamm worked with the nascent Department of Homeland Security in the Science and Technology Directorate.  In the Office of the Assistant Secretary, she focused on strategic planning, budget development, policy planning, and congressional affairs. She has also worked as an advocate for professional science societies and as a legislative assistant on Capitol Hill. 

She has a bachelor's degree in Geology from Amherst College, as well as a master's in Geophysics and a Ph.D. in Material Sciences from the University of Minnesota.