In a 62-37 vote, the Senate has voted to confirmRick Perry as the Secretary of Energy under President Donald Trump.Perry, who graduated from Texas A&M with a bachelor's degree in animal science, willguideresearch and policy related toenergy production in the US, handle issues related to radioactive waste disposal, lead nuclear reactor projects, and run the US' system of national laboratories. He willalso oversee grants thatfund scientific research.That's in addition, of course, to being responsible forthe nation's nuclear arsenal.Unlike those who filled the role before him overthe lastdecade, Perry does not have a professional background in science. (He also once suggested he'd like to eliminate the Department of Energy, though he has since reversed his stanceon the matter.)Perry won'tbe the first non-scientist to head the department. From the 1970s until 2005, the post was held by peoplewithout science or engineering degrees (mostly politicians and lawyers). After that, all Secretaries of Energy hadheld PhDs until now. Take a look:SEE ALSO:Scientists around the world are worried about a Trump team proposal to ax NASA's 58-year mission to study the EarthDON'T MISS:California governor: 'If Trump turns off the satellites, California will launch its own damn satellite'1977-1979: James SchlesingerJames Schlesinger was the first US Secretary of Energy, a Republican picked by President Jimmy Carter to head the department just after it was formed. Schlesinger had led the Department of Defense from 1973-1975 and played a significant role in national nuclear policy. As Secretary of Energy, he worked to consolidate the department's functions, which had previously been distributed across several agencies, and funded research efforts that included one of the first federal investigations into the impact of carbon dioxide on our atmosphere.1979-1981: Charles Duncan Jr.The second Secretary of Energy under Carter, Duncan also previously served as Secretary of Defense. Carter was criticized for the selection because Duncan, a former executive in the coffee industry, had no direct experience with oil. As secretary, Duncan worked on negotiations with OPEC during a tough period in the global oil economy.1981-1982: James EdwardsJames Edwards was President Ronald Reagan's first Secretary of Energy. A former governor of South Carolina with a background in oral surgery, Edwards was known as a proponent of nuclear energy, and, like Perry oncepromised to dismantle the Department of Energy(he didn't, of course).The New York Times reports that Edwards"struggled" in the post he was criticized for his lack of expertise in the field and hamstrung by the Reagan administration's distaste for the department.See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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