David Turk

For the American historian, see David S. Turk.

David Turk
Turk in 2024
21st United States Deputy Secretary of Energy
Incumbent
Assumed office March 25, 2021
President	Joe Biden
Preceded by	Mark Menezes
Personal details
Born	Quito, Ecuador
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Emily Turk
Children	3
Education	University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (BA) University of Virginia (JD)

David M. Turk is an American attorney serving as the United States deputy secretary of energy in the Biden administration.^[1][2]

Early life and education

Turk was born in Quito, Ecuador and raised in Rock Falls, Illinois.^[3] Turk attended Rock Falls High School before he earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1999.^[4][5]

Career

From 2001 to 2007, Turk worked in the United States Senate offices of Joe Biden and Kent Conrad. He was also the staff director of the United States House Oversight Subcommittee on National Security. During the Obama administration, he served as a special assistant to the president and senior director of the United States National Security Council. He then moved to the United States Department of State, where he worked as a deputy special envoy for climate change and helped coordinate efforts to limit the proliferation of nuclear weapons between Russia and the United States.^[6][7] Turk later served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Energy for International Climate and Technology.^[2] After the end of the Obama administration, he became the deputy executive director of the International Energy Agency, where he helped promote clean energy around the world.

On February 13, 2021, his nomination by President Joe Biden to be Deputy Secretary of Energy was formally submitted to the Senate for confirmation.^[8]

The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources favorably reported the nomination by a 20–0 vote, and the full United States Senate confirmed Turk by a 98–2 vote on March 24, 2021, with only Senators Josh Hawley and Rand Paul in opposition.^[9] He was sworn in on March 25, 2021, by Secretary Jennifer Granholm.^[10]

Personal life

Turk and his wife, Emily, have three children. Emily is a sustainability expert and architect.^[4]

References

1. Grandoni, Dino. "Analysis | The Energy 202: Biden picks ex-Obama climate official for Energy Department deputy". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
2. "David Turk". Energy.gov. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
3. "David M. Turk". Energy.gov. Retrieved 2021-05-30.
4. "David Turk Appointed as IEA Deputy Executive Director - News". IEA. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
5. "Class Notes". UVA Lawyer. Fall 2016. p. 91. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
6. Dillon, Jeremy (2021-02-10). "Biden names Obama alum as DOE deputy secretary". E&E News. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
7. "President Biden Announces Additional Members of His Energy and Jobs Team". The White House. 2021-02-10. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
8. "PN118 — David Turk — Department of Energy". U.S. Congress. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
9. Budryk, Zack (March 24, 2021). "Senate confirms David Turk as Deputy Energy Secretary". The Hill. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
10. "David M. Turk Sworn In as Deputy Secretary of Energy" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: United States Department of Energy. March 25, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2021.

External links

• Appearances on C-SPAN

Political offices
Preceded by Mark Menezes	United States Deputy Secretary of Energy 2021–present	Incumbent