Mike Koentop is the Executive Officer for the Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management.  He is responsible for program management, operational excellence, and communications and public relations.  In this role, Mike provides analysis, guidance, coordination, and support in program and operations management, and communications activities essential to the organization, and acts as senior advisor for interactions between the manager and deputy manager and subordinate offices, Headquarters elements, and external organizations on specific programs managed within the Office of the Manager. Mike is the spokesperson for the agency, maintaining working relationships with local, regional, and national press.

Mike began his career with the Department of Energy in January 2007 as a public affairs specialist with the Department’s Oak Ridge Office.  In that role, he was the senior public affairs professional responsible for providing counsel to senior management on all public and internal communications issues, developing communications strategies and policies, and leading the execution of communications programs and campaigns. He was the primary spokesperson for the agency, and served as a key member of the organization's emergency response organization.

Prior to his DOE career, Mike was the director of public affairs for the Western Regional Office for the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service in San Francisco, California.  In addition to executive communications duties, he was responsible for planning and executing all protocol aspects for visits of high ranking officials to the region that included eight states and the islands of Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa.

Mike served in the United States Army as a journalist and public affairs specialist, completing assignments in Japan, Haiti, Bosnia, and locations in the United States.  He is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications and public relations.  He is also a graduate of the Defense Information School and the University of Maryland University College.

Mike lives in Oak Ridge, Tenn. with his son, Gavin.