@ Linda - "“Is he a qualified candidate?" YES.  "Could he lead the DOE in a new direction?"  YES  ”Not, “Is this an inside job where he has an unfair advantage?”   This is an important point that shouldn't be ignored.  The thing to have NOT DONE is to make Mr. Galera head the Committee drafting the guidelines for this search.  Also the timing, Mr. Galera should have stepped down sooner.