William Horak serves as the chair of the Energy Sciences & Technology Department (EST) at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory. Horak has a B.S. in aeronautical and astronautical engineering, and an M.S. and a Ph.D. in nuclear engineering from the University of Illinois. He is an internationally recognized expert on energy issues and has served on numerous boards, committees, and panels, both in the U.S. and for international organizations, such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Horak has received numerous commendations, including the American Nuclear Society's Mark Mills Award and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Special Achievement Certificate.