Linda Horton is the Director of the Division of Materials Sciences and Engineering (DMS&E), Office of Basic Energy Sciences (BES) in the Office of Science, U. S. Department of Energy (DOE). DMS&E supports a broad-based research program engaged in fundamental studies of materials sciences and engineering. The research seeks to understand the atomistic basis of materials properties and behavior and how to make materials perform better at acceptable cost through innovative materials design, synthesis, and processing. The program fulfills DOE missions through research that leads to improved materials for energy efficiency, environmental acceptability, and energy generation, conversion, transmission, and utilization. Prior to joining BES, she was the Director of the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, one of the five DOE national user facilities for nanoscale science research.