Kathie Olsen will head OSTP's Science Division. She holds a Ph.D. in biology from the University of California at Irvine and was formerly chief scientist at NASA. Before joining NASA in 1999, she was a senior staff associate for NSF's science and technology centers. During the 1980s, she was an assistant professor at the State University of New York at Stoneybrook. In addition to the physical sciences (which includes fusion), she will oversee programs on life sciences, environment, social and behavioral sciences and education.

Richard Russell will head the Technology Division. He holds a BA in biology from Yale University and was formerly deputy chief of staff of the House Committee on Science, where he worked since 1995. At OSTP he will oversee programs on telecommunications, information technology, space and aeronautics.