The finalists for WashingtonExec’s Pinnacle Awards were announced Oct. 11, and we’ll be highlighting some of them until the event takes place live, in-person Nov. 30.
Next is Climate Change Government Executive of the Year finalist Richard G. Kidd IV, who’s Defense Department Environment and Energy Resilience deputy assistant secretary of defense. Here, he talks success in his current role, proud career moments, taking professional risks and more.
What key achievements did you have in 2021 / 2022?
Climate Adaptation: I led the drafting team and was one the primary authors for the Department of Defense’s Climate Adaptation Plan. This document was recognized by the White House as one of the best in the federal government and served as the basis for subsequent climate strategies published by each of the three military departments. Supporting this effort has been the rapid expansion and application of the Defense Climate Assessment Tool ⏤ which allows for installation-specific assessments of current and future climate risks to military installations.
Climate Mitigation: I oversee over $300 million in RDT&E funds directed at researching a variety of advanced energy solutions for DOD’s installations and operational activities, directing expenditure of funds, often in partnership with the Energy Department to accelerate the production of super high-efficiency PV arrays, advanced long-term power storage, hybrid electric and anti-idle drives for tactical vehicles and use of hydrogen as a power source for select military applications.
Climate Resilience: I have established the policy direction for department’s investment in resilience energy infrastructure; overseeing a 3-fold increase in the Energy Resilience Conservation Improvement Program and focusing almost the entirety of that $550 million program on the construction of cyber-secure microgrids with onsite power generation and storage. This may well be the largest micro-grid program in the nation.
What has made you successful in your current role?
A sense of curiosity and a commitment to growth.
Over the years I have been very fortunate to work with, and for, a large number of very talented and inspirational people. I like to learn a person’s “story” and try to learn something new from everyone that I work with, regardless of rank or role. I have intentionally worked to cultivate a network of talented individuals willing to assist me in my work, either formally or informally.
This sense of curiosity has caused me to seek out new experiences and challenges, leading me to serve as an SES in four federal agencies plus the White House. This broad service has in turn provided me with a unique, multi-facetted perspective on federal energy policy and public sector sustainability practices.
What was a turning point or inflection point in your career?
Serving on a design charrette for “Net Zero Refugee Camps” in 2001 led by the Rocky Mountain Institute. After seven years working as a logistics officer in refugee relief as an employee of the United Nations, I worked closely with energy and sustainability experts, including Amory Lovins, to apply whole-systems integrated design to problems of energy, water, waste and food in the context of refugee camp operations. From there I was hooked and decided to go all in on sustainability.
What are you most proud of having been a part of in your current organization?
Building a team of fantastic federal staff to guide and advance DOD’s sustainability efforts. When I arrived in this current job, total staff numbered just 13, almost a 70% reduction from 2013. Thanks to strong support from this administration and Congress we have now been able to almost triple that number. More importantly, though has been the quality of the people that have chosen to join our team. By offering a great working environment, meaningful issues, delegated responsibility and a permanent hybrid work environment, I can now state that the OSD sustainability team is without a doubt the best group of government employees I have ever had the privilege of working with.
What are your primary focus areas going forward, and why are those so important to the future of the nation?
My primary interest going forward is to embed climate change and sustainability considerations into all the major processes and policies of the Department of Defense. The DOD must be able to fulfill its national security mission under all future climate considerations and it must do so in a manner that keeps faith with the American people. The DOD must adapt and be prepared to operate in an environment characterized by climate change, and do so in a manner that does not compound the problem with unmitigated GHG emissions.
How do you help shape the next generation of government leaders/industry leaders?
I have recognized that in this phase of my career my greatest responsibility is to cultivate talent and groom the next generation of leaders and problem solvers. I view every task, every meeting and every call through the lenses of how can I improve individual performance and growth. I have created seven supervisory positions within our team, provided those individuals with training and empowered them to lead and make decisions while ensuring all staff have the opportunity to work serve on cross-functional teams and always put the expert first, regardless of grade or rank. Frankly, I think our little team is rather unique inside the Pentagon in that we have dispensed with much of rigidity that is common to DOD.
What’s one key thing you learned from a failure you had?
Never be in a hurry to fill a position. Making a bad hire can undermine the effectiveness of the entire team, for years. Hiring quality is always more important than hiring quickly.
Which rules do you think you should break more as a government/industry leader?
I cannot really advocate for rule breaking, rather there are a number of areas where I would like to see greater flexibility given to senior government officials, particularly in the areas of hiring and contracting.
What’s the biggest professional risk you’ve ever taken?
When I chose to leave the Department of State where I was a recognized expert in humanitarian relief and post-conflict recovery in order to join the Department of Energy’s Federal Energy Management Program. I made the conscious decision, to the amazement of some of friends and mentors, to leave behind a promising career at State and take a huge risk to turn what was then my “hobby” interest of energy into my vocation.
Looking back at your career, what are you most proud of?
Looking back over my life, I have been proud of many things and accomplishments, but take the greatest satisfaction in my ability to develop productive and collaborative working relationships across agencies, interests and even cultures. My experiences working with the Taliban to clear landmines and the Russians to deliver food to starving refugees were great preparation to working within the “interagency process” here in Washington were I helped craft Federal policy on landmines, MANPADS threat reduction, Federal Sustainability and Climate Change adaptation and mitigation.
What was your biggest career struggle and how did you overcome it?
On many occasions I have been offered very lucrative employment in the private sector. And while the additional financial security was appealing and made sense, I always chose to stay in public service.
What’s your best career advice for those who want to follow in your footstep
Be prepared, know your audience and never stop learning and growing.