Office of Science and Technology Policy

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Office of Science and Technology Policy
Agency overview
FormedMay 11, 1976; 47 years ago (1976-05-11)
Preceding agency
  • Office of Science and Technology
HeadquartersEisenhower Executive Office Building
725 17th Street, Washington, D.C., U.S.
Employees45
Agency executive
Parent agencyExecutive Office of the President
WebsiteOffice of Science and Technology Policy

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 also known as the President's Science Advisor. It is part of the United States Cabinet since 2021. The current director is Arati Prabhakar since 2023.

Background[change | change source]

Dr. John Holdren, Director, nominated in December 2008, served as Science Advisor to President Barack Obama.[1] Holdren also co-chaired the President's Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) and supported the President's National Science and Technology Council (NSTC).[2][3]

President Donald Trump nominated Kelvin Droegemeier to become Director. He took office in February 2019.

On January 15, 2021 President-elect Joe Biden said he promoted the office to cabinet-level.[4]

Directors[change | change source]

List of OSTP directors[5]
No. Portrait Name President Term
1 H. Guyford Stever Gerald Ford 1976–1977
2 Frank Press Jimmy Carter 1977–1981
Benjamin Huberman (acting) Ronald Reagan 1981
3 George A. Keyworth, II 1981–1985
John P. McTague (acting) 1986
Richard G. Johnson (acting) 1986
4 William Robert Graham 1986–1989
Thomas P. Rona (acting) 1989
William G. Wells (acting) George H. W. Bush 1989
5 D. Allan Bromley 1989–1993
6 John H. Gibbons Bill Clinton 1993–1998
Kerri-Ann Jones (acting) 1998
7 Neal F. Lane 1998–2001
Rosina Bierbaum (acting) George W. Bush 2001
Clifford Gabriel (acting) 2001
8 John H. Marburger III 2001–2009
Ted Wackler (acting) Barack Obama 2009
9 John Holdren 2009–2017
Ted Wackler (acting) Donald Trump 2017–2019
10 Kelvin Droegemeier 2019–2021
Kei Koizumi (acting) Joe Biden 2021
11 Eric Lander 2021–2022
Alondra Nelson (acting)[6] 2022
12 Arati Prabhakar 2022–present

References[change | change source]

  1. "President-elect Obama announces key members of Science and Technology team" (Press release). Office of the President-Elect. 2008-12-20. Archived from the original on 2009-05-10. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
  2. "OSTP Leadership & Staff". Obama White House archives. Office of Science and Technology Policy. Retrieved 2017-03-09.
  3. "About PCAST". Obama White House archives. Office of Science and Technology Policy. Retrieved 2017-03-09.
  4. "Biden will elevate White House science office to cabinet-level". The Washington Post. January 15, 2021.
  5. "Previous Science Advisors (1973–2009)". whitehouse.gov – via National Archives.
  6. Ward, Myah. "Biden names 2 people to replace Eric Lander in top science roles". POLITICO. Retrieved 2022-02-17.

Other websites[change | change source]