The Honorable John Thune Majority Leader United States Senate
The Honorable Ted Cruz Chairman, Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation United States Senate
Majority Leader Thune and Chairman Cruz:
The race for technological supremacy has reached a critical inflection point and America needs leaders in critical roles that are up to the task.
Dr. Ethan Klein’s nomination as Chief Technology Officer and Associate Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) is exactly the kind of appointment that fits this criteria, one that is serious about securing American technological leadership for the next decade.
The Right Credentials at the Right Time
With a PhD in nuclear engineering from MIT, prior service at OSTP during the first Trump Administration, and an MBA from Stanford, Dr. Klein understands how to work across government, industry, and academia to accelerate the speed at which cutting-edge research delivers for the American people.
Dr. Klein’s experience spans the full spectrum of American innovation: he’s lived in the lab, worked inside the policy machine, and understands the challenges facing companies trying to bring transformative technologies to market. His fellowship through the National Nuclear Security Administration and work at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory provide deep expertise in technologies critical to both energy dominance and the national security mission of our research and development apparatus.
A Champion for American Innovation
Dr. Klein has been a consistent advocate for reducing regulatory friction, accelerating tech transfer, and making it easier for American entrepreneurs to build, test, and scale here at home. Whether it’s AI, nuclear energy, advanced manufacturing, or quantum technologies, he understands that the United States must remain the best place in the world to invent the future.
This philosophy directly counters China’s state-directed approach. While Beijing builds two new coal plants every week and deploys massive resources toward technological advancement, America’s advantage lies in our innovation ecosystem. Dr. Klein recognizes this competitive reality.
His unique combination of technical depth and policy experience positions him to tackle the regulatory underbrush that too often strangles American innovation while our competitors surge ahead.
The Stakes Couldn’t Be Higher
President Trump understands that technological leadership is national security and Dr. Klein’s appointment fills out the team to advance this agenda in important ways. In short, Dr. Klein is exactly the kind of leader OSTP needs: technically fluent and fiercely committed to keeping America competitive. We urge swift confirmation.
Respectfully submitted,
Matt Sparks
ALFA Institute
cc: The Honorable Michael Kratsios, OSTP
