Joseph DeCarolis
Department Head and Professor, Engineering and Public Policy
Joseph F. DeCarolis is an internationally-recognized leader with technical expertise in energy systems, climate change, computing, and public policy and the head of the Department of Enginering and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University.
Prior to becoming department head, he spent four years at the Environmental Protection Agency and 17 years at North Carolina State University. From 2022-2025 DeCarolis served in a Presidentially-appointed, Senate-confirmed role as administrator of the Energy Information Administration, the official statistical and analytical agency within the Department of Energy. In this role he led 350 federal employees and 300 contractors with a $135 million annual budget.
With more than 60 peer-reviewed research publications, DeCarolis has focused his research on the need to rapidly develop sustainable energy systems. His work combines domain knowledge in energy systems with numerical and mathematical modeling, life cycle assessment, and energy economics with the aim of providing practical energy-related insights to decision makers.
Research Interests
Media mentions
Engineering and Public Policy
DeCarolis aims to amplify EPP's impact as department head
As head of the department of engineering and public policy, Joseph F. DeCarolis seeks to increase the visibility and real-world impact of this unique department’s cutting-edge research.
CMU Engineering
DeCarolis named head of Engineering and Public Policy
Joseph DeCarolis, an internationally recognized leader with technical expertise in energy systems, climate change, computing and public policy has been named head of the Department of Engineering and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University effective November 1, 2025.