Maryland Women in Energy – Leading by Example Director Tung Champions Clean Energy, Energy Efficiency and Giving Back

Director Tung addresses the crowd at the University of Maryland solar canopy dedication ceremony photo credit: John Consoli

Governor Larry Hogan proclaimed 2020 As ‘Year Of The Woman’ in Maryland and the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) has been highlighting Maryland women in energy.

 Dr. Tung earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Cincinnati, a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from Wright State University, a Postdoctoral Associate in pharmacology and virology at the Yale University School of Medicine and received her J.D. from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. She is also a member of the Maryland bar. 

As Director of the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA), Dr. Tung works to ensure that Maryland’s energy portfolio benefits Maryland residents, businesses and local government organizations by improving the effective use of all energy resources available in the state. Dr. Tung oversees nearly 40 energy related programs including grants that benefit low-to-moderate income families, commercial and industrial entities, and residential. These programs also promote expansion of renewable energy and promotion of energy efficiency for businesses and nonprofit organizations.

The depth of our partnerships with Maryland businesses, local governments and nonprofits is astonishing, there is no sector in Maryland that has not been enhanced by the state energy office. MEA’s team of subject matter experts along with grants, loans and rebates have helped position Maryland as a leader in energy under Dr. Tung’s leadership.

Dr. Tung helps to leverage state resources with private and commercial investments across a variety of energy areas such as:

Maryland also received recognition by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy as the “most improved” in the nation, moving up three points in 2019 to #7. Maryland has been in the Top Ten listing for the past nine consecutive years. Also in 2019, recognized MEA’s low and moderate income energy efficiency program as an Exemplary Program in the Low-Income: Social Equity category.

Director Tung at the dedication of Peninsula Regional Medical Center’s combined heat and power system.

Dr. Tung serves as a Maryland spokesperson, representing the state at energy innovation conferences such as Light City Energy Innovation, Microgrid 2.0, the Mid-Atlantic Bioenergy Conference, 2016 PJM Annual Meeting, the 2018 NARUC Annual meeting, and Wind Europe. She is Governor Hogan’s Alternate on the Southern States’ Energy Board, a member of the National Association of State Energy Officials Board as the Mid-Atlantic Regional Co-Director, and serves as a member of the NARUC-NASEO Task Force on Comprehensive Electricity Planning, the U.S. Department of Energy State Energy Advisory Board, a Commissioner on the Maryland Climate Change Commission, a member of the Maryland Clean Energy Board, a member of the University of Maryland Energy Innovation Institute Board, a member of the Maryland Smart Growth Subcabinet, a member of the Maryland Clean Energy Center Board, a member of the TEDCO Maryland Innovation Initiative Board, a Director and Member of the OWRDC Nyserda Offshore Wind Research and Development Commission, and is a former Chair of the Appalachian States Low Level Radiation Waste Compact.

A leader within the state as well, Director Tung was named a co-chair for the 2020 Maryland Charity Campaign and has been actively promoting donations throughout the season. The 2020 Maryland Charity Campaign theme is One Family One Hope #MDinThisTogether, and the campaign is doing one more giant push for donations this December. There are over 1,000 charities to support small donations go a long way. A donation of $26 can help provide one worker with a PPE kit (face mask, shield and gloves). A donation of $130 provides 130 meals to Marylanders in need. A donation of $260 provides an animal shelter with enough food for an entire month. To make your donation today, please click here.

Dr. Tung is also a virologist and has been serving the State of Maryland on a COVID-19 research task force. Additionally, Director Tung is a 2019 graduate of the Maryland Leadership program and continues to participate in mentoring others. Previously, Dr. Tung served as Deputy Secretary of Operations at the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE). Mary Beth helped to develop innovative solutions for the department to work more efficiently and she also oversaw the move of MEA to the MDE Baltimore headquarters. 

Prior to state service, Dr. Tung worked as a patent attorney practiced business and intellectual property law, contracts law, and government contract law. She was a registered patent agent specializing in biotechnology,   a biotech patent examiner at the United States Patent and Trademark Office and was an assistant professor at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.