The Senate has voted 56-40 to approve the nomination of Paul Dabbar, former Bohr Quantum Technology president and CEO, as deputy secretary of the Department of Commerce. His role calls for managing an $11.4 billion annual budget and 12 units with 47,000 employees, the department said Wednesday.
President Donald Trump nominated him to the position in March. Dabbar had served in the first Trump administration as science undersecretary at the Department of Energy, wherein he oversaw most of the U.S. national laboratories’ energy research, as well as technologies commercialization at the department’s 17 national labs.
Dabbar’s Private Sector Engagements
Besides leading Bohr Quantum previous to his Commerce Department appointment, Dabbar had served as a managing director at J.P. Morgan. He is currently a member of the board of directors of Dominion Energy and AirJoule, according to his LinkedIn profile.
A former U.S. Navy nuclear submarine officer, Dabbar earned a master of business administration degree from Columbia University and a bachelor of science degree in marine/nuclear engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Dabbar’s leadership will be vital in advancing the department’s research and technology efforts. “Paul brings a unique science-backed mindset and deep understanding of how the government and industry can work together to push the boundaries of American innovation and technology,” the top commerce official remarked.
One of the department’s new plans calls for a revamp of the AI Safety Institute to lift obstacles on the rapid commercialization of artificial intelligence.
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