WHAT: DOD Energy Official to Address UT Austin, Central Texas Energy Leaders: Sharon Burke, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Operational Energy Plans and Programs, will discuss how the military intends to spend more than $1 billion in the next fiscal year to improve the energy efficiency of its aircraft, combat vehicles and ships.
Secretary Burke will deliver her remarks to energy leaders Thursday afternoon as part of a two-day visit to Austin, during which she will also meet with Texas Army ROTC graduating seniors, University leaders, and Austin Chamber of Commerce Energy CEOs.
WHEN: Thursday, May 17, 1:15 – 2:15 p.m.
WHERE: LBJ School of Public Affairs – Bass Lecture Hall, 2315 Red River
Background: In the next fiscal year, the U.S. Department of Defense will invest more than $1 billion to enhance the efficiency of aircraft and aircraft engines; build hybrid electric drives for ships; improve generators and micro-grids for combat bases; and improve the efficiency of combat vehicles. The DOD also will invest another $1 billion to make its installations more energy efficient and use them as a test bed to demonstrate next- generation energy technologies.
About Assistant Secretary Burke: Sharon E. Burke was sworn in as the inaugural Assistant Secretary of Defense for Operational Energy Plans and Programs on June 25, 2010. The mission of the office is to help the military services and combatant commands improve military capabilities, cut costs, and lower operational and strategic risk through better energy accounting, planning, management, and innovation.
The event is free and open to the public.
