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The U.S. Department of Energy has appointed Andrew McClure to lead the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER), the office charged with protecting America’s energy infrastructure from cyber and physical threats.

As Director, McClure will oversee efforts to harden critical infrastructure, strengthen preparedness and emergency response capabilities, and build partnerships across federal, state, local, and private-sector stakeholders. The role sits at the center of the nation’s push to secure energy systems against an evolving threat landscape — from ransomware and nation-state intrusions to physical attacks on the grid.

“Andrew’s background in national security, cybersecurity, and emerging technology makes him exceptionally qualified to lead CESER,” said James P. Danly, Deputy Secretary of Energy. “As threats to our energy systems continue to evolve, his experience will strengthen our efforts to harden critical infrastructure, enhance preparedness, emergency response, and deepen partnerships across industry and government to deliver affordable, reliable, and secure energy to American families and industries.”

A career spanning defense, intelligence, and venture capital

McClure brings an unusual blend of experience to the role. He spent more than a decade as a venture capitalist, most recently at Forgepoint Capital, where he focused on cybersecurity and infrastructure software — backing entrepreneurs building technologies to defend enterprises against cyber threats. He’s also a Founding Investor at Surefire Cyber, Converge Insurance, and CyberCube, and has accumulated more than 30 years of combined board director experience.

Before his time in the private sector, McClure served as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, leading cross-functional teams in signals intelligence and cyber operations across Afghanistan, the Middle East, East Africa, and Australia. He remains active in the Marine Corps Reserve today.

His academic background is equally wide-ranging: a Master of Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School, an MBA from MIT Sloan, a Master of Strategic Studies from the Australian National University, and a Bachelor of Science in Astrophysics from the U.S. Naval Academy.

Emily Burdick, who has served as Acting Director and been an instrumental leader within CESER, will continue in her role as Principal Deputy Director, working alongside McClure to advance the office’s mission of strengthening the security and resilience of the energy sector.

McClure’s appointment comes as CESER continues its work to safeguard the nation’s energy systems in support of the Department of Energy’s broader mission under Secretary Chris Wright to restore American energy dominance while protecting critical infrastructure from an increasingly complex mix of cyber and physical threats.