Who We Are
Dr. James F. Decker
Dr. Decker is the former Principal Deputy Director of the Office of Science at the U.S. Department of Energy, a position that he held for 21 years. The Office of Science is one of the premier science organizations in the federal government supporting research in nearly every scientific discipline. The Office of Science also has responsibility for 10 Department of Energy laboratories and the construction and operation of major scientific facilities that serve the U.S. and international research communities. As the top career official in the Office of Science, Dr. Decker was the acting director of the office between Presidential Appointees on numerous occasions for a total of nearly 7 years.
During Dr. Decker’s tenure at the Department of Energy, he played a key role in the successful funding and management of the construction of a number of large scientific facilities including synchrotron light sources, accelerators and neutron sources. He was also instrumental in developing and obtaining funding for a number of scientific initiatives including high performance computing, human genome sequencing and nanotechnology. Dr. Decker testified before Congress over thirty times on various issues related to the Department of Energy’s missions. He also represented the U.S. in many international forums and negotiations on international scientific collaborations.
Dr. Decker was recognized for management excellence with the Presidential Distinguished Executive Award and with two Presidential Meritorious Executive Awards. He also received the Department of Energy’s highest award, the Secretary’s Gold Medal, and the National Nuclear Security Agency’s Gold Medal.
Since joining Dave Garman and John Sullivan in the formation of DGS & Associates, LLC, Dr. Decker has provided strategic and tactical advice on obtaining federal research funding and research management to universities, industry and national laboratories. Dr. Decker serves on the Secretary of Energy's Advisory Board Task Force on the National Laboratories. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Jefferson Science Laboratory which manages the Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. He also serves on advisory boards at Michigan State University, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Dr. Decker holds a B.S. in physics from Union College and M.S. and Ph. D. degrees in physics from Yale University.
Contact Dr. Decker directly at 703-647-6228, or by clicking “contact us.”
Mr. John Sullivan
Mr. John Sullivan was one of the foremost management innovators in government service—a recognized expert in strategic planning, management innovation, and program and project management. Like Dr. Decker, John Sullivan is a recipient of the Presidential Rank Award, the highest award in the Senior Executive Service.
During his 32 career with the Department of Energy he created, and led, the Department’s Office of Strategic Planning for ten years; was the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; and retired from the Department of Energy as the career Associate Under Secretary of Energy, the first career employee appointed at the Departmental level.
Mr. Sullivan, whose clients range from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies, specializes in business development and corporate strategic planning. He has successfully expanded the business base of all his clients and has an impressive capture record. He is one of the foremost authorities in the country on doing business with the Department of Energy.
He is also called upon frequently to advise Senior Executives across the Government on some of today’s most difficult management challenges. He currently advises a number of Senior Administration officials on a wide spectrum of strategic management issues.
Contact Mr. Sullivan directly at 703-647-6226, or by clicking “contact us.”