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Meredith Berger

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Meredith Berger
United States Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations and Environment
Assumed office
August 5, 2021
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byTodd L. Schafer (acting)
Performing the Duties of United States Under Secretary of the Navy
In office
August 25, 2021 – April 13, 2022
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byJames Geurts (acting)
Succeeded byErik Raven
Personal details
Nationality American
EducationVanderbilt University (BA)
Nova Southeastern University (JD)
Harvard University (MPA)
AwardsNavy Distinguished Civilian Service Award
Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service

Meredith Ashley Berger[1] is an American government official who is serving as the United States Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations, and Environment; a position she has held since August 5, 2021. From August 25, 2021, until April 13, 2022, she concurrently served as the designated official performing the duties of the United States Under Secretary of the Navy.[2]

Education

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Berger holds a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies and Spanish from Vanderbilt University; a Juris Doctor from Nova Southeastern University; and a Master of Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School.[3][4][5]

Public service career

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Berger began her career in public service at the state of Florida Chief Financial Officer's office where she developed and executed state policies on climate, insurance, risk, energy, public finance, and housing. She previously served for two years at the Pentagon as a Defense Fellow, providing support to key offices in the Department of Defense. She joined the Obama administration in 2011, serving as the policy advisor at the Environmental Protection Agency where she worked on the Presidential Task Force focused on the long-term recovery of the Gulf of Mexico and surrounding areas following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. She then served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for the United States Department of the Navy during the Obama administration, where she advised the Secretary of the Navy on the formulation, prioritization, and execution of Department-wide strategy, policies, plans, and standards.[3]

Professional career

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She worked at Microsoft with the Defending Democracy Program where she works to protect democratic processes, people, and institutions from cyber-enabled interference while advancing norms of responsible behavior in cyberspace.[3] She has been a non-resident Fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School.[6]

Assistant Secretary of the Navy

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On April 23, 2021, President Joe Biden announced Berger as his nominee to be the United States Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Installations and Environment.[3][7][8] On April 28, 2021, her nomination was sent to the United States Senate.[9]

On July 22, 2021, Berger was confirmed by the Senate by unanimous consent as Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Installations and Environment.[10] She was sworn into office on August 5, 2021.[11]

Awards and recognition

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Berger is the recipient of the Secretary of the Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Award, the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service, and the Environmental Protection Agency Gold Medal for Exceptional Service. She is the sponsor of the USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD-28).[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Section Member Profile". The Florida Bar. Retrieved 2021-08-09.
  2. ^ "Meredith A. Berger". U.S. Navy. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e "President Biden Announces Key Administration Nominations in National Security", White House, April 27, 2021 Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. ^ "Mitchell W. Berger" Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  5. ^ "Board of Trustees" Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. ^ "Meredith Berger". Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
  7. ^ Kheel, Rebecca (2021-04-27). "Biden to nominate former Pentagon acquisition chief to lead Air Force". TheHill. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
  8. ^ "Former EPA policy advisor picked to lead Navy environmental programs". insideepa.com. 2021-04-27. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
  9. ^ "Nominations Sent to the Senate", White House, April 28, 2021
  10. ^ Gould, Joe (July 26, 2021). "Pentagon adding new China and tech chiefs". Defense News. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  11. ^ "Meredith Berger Sworn in as Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations & Environment" (Press release). navy.mil. 2021-08-05. Retrieved 2021-08-09.


Government offices
Preceded by
Todd L. Schafer
Acting
United States Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Installations and Environment
2021–present
Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by United States Under Secretary of the Navy
Acting

2021–2022
Succeeded by
Order of precedence
Preceded byas Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard Order of precedence of the United States
as Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Energy, Installations and Environment)
Succeeded byas Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management and Comptroller)