Champions of Secure Energy

Editor's Note: This blog introduces readers to Katherine Hammack, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment.

Today in a special White House ceremony, I was privileged to meet, listen to, and help recognize nine individuals from around the nation who are being acknowledged as Champions of Change for Innovations in Renewable Energy.

Among those being recognized is U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Alan Samuels, a Reserve Officer assigned to the Army Reserve Sustainment Command in support of the Research, Development, and Engineering Command (RDECOM), a part of the Army Material Command. Samuels deployed to Afghanistan for nine months in support of RDECOM's initiative to stand up a science and technology collaboration and integration center in theater. During his deployment he organized and led efforts for a 1-mega watt micro grid project the Army installed in Bagram. This project reduced power outages by 50 percent and fuel consumption for power generation by over 20 percent.

When not serving as an Active Reserve Officer, Lt. Col. Samuels is a Department of the Army civilian, working as a research chemist studying remote sensing technology at Edgewood Chemical Biological Center at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. Throughout his deployment Samuels continued to work with the Center's Army Science and Technology programs, offering them a "boots on the ground" perspective that allowed them to fine tune the Army's emerging technologies to better meet the needs of our war fighters.

Power and energy are a serious focus of the United States Army. In theater, 70-80 percent of our logistics efforts are focused on moving fuel and water. Fuel and water must be transported by convoys which are often targeted by our adversaries. Any reduction in the amount of fuel we use translates into fewer convoys, and thus fewer lives lost protecting that fuel.

Today, we witnessed firsthand how the military and civilians are working to find better ways for America to manage their power and energy resources. My personal congratulations go to Lt. Col. Samuels, and those who were recognized today as Champions of Change for Innovations in Renewable Energy.

Katherine Hammack is Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment