Dr. Maxine Savitz’s areas of expertise include energy efficiency research and development (R&D) and products in the transportation, industry, and buildings sectors; aerospace technology; and integration of R&D between laboratories and business units.
From 1979 to 1983, she served as the deputy assistant secretary for conservation at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). She received the Outstanding Service Medal from DOE in 1981. Prior to her DOE service, she was program manager for Research Applied to National Needs at the National Science Foundation. Following her government service, Dr. Savitz served in executive positions in the private sector, including president of the Lighting Research Institute, assistant to the vice president for engineering at the Garrett Corporation, and general manager of Allied Signal Ceramic Components. She retired from the position of general manager for technology partnerships at Honeywell.
Dr. Savitz served two terms as vice president of the National Academy of Engineering. She was elected a fellow to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2013. She served on the President’s Council of Advisors for Science and Technology from 2009 to 2017 and was co-vice chair from 2010 to 2017. Dr. Savitz was appointed to the National Science Board from 1998 to 2004. She is a member of advisory bodies for Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratory. She has been a member of the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board, the Laboratory Operations Board, and advisory committees at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Dr. Savitz earned a BA in chemistry from Bryn Mawr College and a PhD in organic chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.