Academia Tierney worked as an assistant professor at the
University of California, Irvine from 1978 to 1982 and as a researcher for the
National Academy of Sciences in 1982. Tierney is an expert in the regulation and economics of the electricity and natural gas industries.
Government From 1982 to 1993, Tierney held a variety of positions in the government of
Massachusetts, including as Executive Director of the Energy Facilities Siting Council, Commissioner of the Department of Public Utilities, and Secretary of Environmental Affairs. since 2003. From 1993 to 1995 she served as the Assistant Secretary of Energy for Policy in the
Clinton administration. Previously, she was appointed to roles in state government in
Massachusetts by both Republican governor
William Weld and Democratic governor
Michael Dukakis. Early in her career she was an assistant professor at the
University of California, Irvine. Tierney was expected to be named
Deputy Secretary of Energy under
President Barack Obama, until she withdrew her candidacy for the position in March 2009. In September 2009, Dr. Tierney was elected to the Board of Directors of
World Resources Institute. == Personal life ==