WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Jan. 21, 2010) -- President Obama Wednesday announced his intentions to nominate Katherine G. Hammack as assistant secretary of the Army for Installations and Environment.
Hammack has more than 25 years of experience as an energy and sustainability professional with private industry. Currently she is a leader in Ernst & Young's Climate Change and Sustainability Services, an international professional services firm.
The Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations & Environment has oversight of the design, construction, operations, maintenance and management of Army installations. It is involved in the privatization of Army family housing, real estate and utilities. The office is responsible for the Army's environmental compliance and clean-up programs; and management of the Army's safety and occupational health programs. It is also responsible for the Army's Energy Security Implementation Strategy.
Hammack has focused on the evaluation of energy-conservation projects at Ernst and Young, including green buildings, energy-efficiency strategies, demand side management programs, and marketing electricity in deregulated markets. In that capacity she worked with clients to obtain Energy Star or LEED certification for their new construction or existing buildings.
LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is a set of standards for "green" buildings or environmentally sustainable construction. LEED-certified buildings are designed to use resources more efficiently than conventional buildings. Since LEED standards were developed in the 1990s, more than 14,000 projects in 30 countries have adhered to the standards.
Hammack was the key LEED advisor on one of the world's largest LEED-certified projects. The Pallazo Hotel in Las Vegas, which opened in 2008, encompasses 8.3 million square feet and is 50 stories high.
Prior to joining Ernst & Young, Hammack was a marketing manager for a large electric utility, focused on services for architects and engineers. Hammack is a founding member of the U.S. Green Building Council in Washington, D.C. She was a consultant to the White House on the "Greening" of the White House and Executive Office Building where she led the group focused on Indoor Environmental Quality issues.
Hammack has a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Oregon State University and an M.B.A. from the University of Hartford. She is a Certified Energy Manager and LEED Accredited Professional.
(A Jan. 20 White House news release provided information for this report)
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