Rick Perry '72 Confirmed As U.S. Energy Secretary

The U.S. Senate voted 62-37 to confirm former Texas governor Rick Perry '72 as energy secretary.

Perry graduated from Texas A&M in 1972 with a bachelor's degree in animal science. While at A&M, he was a cadet and a yell leader. He is a Distinguished Alumnus, a member of the Corps Hall of Honor and a Fish Camp namesake.

He was elected lieutenant governor of Texas in 1998 and became governor in December 2000 when George W. Bush resigned to become president. Perry was subsequently elected three times to full gubernatorial terms and was the longest-serving governor in Texas history.

The U.S. Department of Energy is responsible for maintaining the country's nuclear weapons stockpile. It also runs national laboratories, sets appliance standards, and distributes research grants.