Program Coordination Office Staff Overview

The Program Coordination Office is staffed by the following individuals: 

Dr. Christopher Szakal, Director (Acting)

Dr. Christopher Szakal is currently serving as the Acting Director of the NIST Program Coordination Office (PCO). Related to this science policy, planning, and evaluation office, Christopher has expertise in scientific and organizational strategic planning, as well as implementation of governance structures and processes related to program coordination, program alignment, and realization of an innovative research ecosystem. He additionally has worked extensively in interagency coordination efforts and in the implementation of equitable and inclusive best practices. Before this acting role, Dr. Szakal served as the Chief of Staff for the NIST Material Measurement Laboratory (MML) from 2019 to 2023.

Full Bio

Ms. Stephanie Shaw, Senior Project Manager

Stephanie is responsible for providing administrative management services and support to the Program Coordination Office (PCO) and ensures the compliance of applicable regulations, policies, and procedures within the division. She serves as the Designated Federal Officer for the primary external advisory board to NIST, the Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology (VCAT) and is responsible for the recruitment and processing of new members, preparing and submitting the federal register notices, and the logistical planning of the VCAT meetings. Stephanie is also responsible for maintaining both the PCO and VCAT websites.

Full Bio

Credit: NIST

Dr. Anna Sberegaeva, Associate Director for Science and Technology Planning and Coordination

Dr. Anna Sberegaeva is a Program Analyst in the Program Coordination Office, the Office of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and NIST Director. In this role she supports various activities related to strategic planning, performance evaluation, and analysis, working closely with leadership from all NIST organizations across Laboratory Programs, Innovation and Industry Services, and Management Resources. Anna also serves as a liaison with the Department of Commerce on Evidence Act implementation, assisting in developing and reporting of the performance metrics and ensuring compliance with the legislative and Administrative requirements.

Full Bio

Credit: NIST

Dr. Holly Sofka, Physical Scientist

Dr. Holly Sofka is a Physical Scientist in the NIST Program Coordination Office (PCO). Her role within the PCO will focus on strategic planning, performance evaluation, and analysis, interacting with leadership and staff across all of NIST. She will also serve as a liaison between NIST and the Department of Commerce. In this role, she will ensure Evidence Act implementation and report key metrics, milestones, and performance indicators of NIST programs to the Department of Commerce. Additionally, she will be a member of the Climate Working Group, coordinating collaboration across NIST’s climate-related activities.

Full Bio

Rotating staff (one-year term) bring into the Director's Office fresh and varying perspectives from the line organizations and a continuing stream of new information, energy, and creativity. A tour within the Program Coordination Office provides a unique development opportunity for NIST staff. Rotating staff become broadly and deeply knowledgeable about NIST, its interactions with the rest of government, and its relationships to industry and other organizations.

The current slate of rotators are: