Ahni Hecht

Ahni Hecht is a project manager in NREL's Accelerated Deployment and Decision Support Center, where she leads planning, coordination, and oversight across a diverse portfolio of federally funded energy initiatives. She specializes in managing complex, multi-partner projects that advance energy security, infrastructure resilience, and U.S. strategic interests. In addition to her domestic portfolio, Hecht leads international efforts that extend U.S. technical expertise to strategic global partners, supporting secure and reliable energy systems abroad. She is skilled at navigating evolving government priorities, coordinating with senior leadership, and supporting the full project lifecycle from scoping through execution. She plays a key role in aligning laboratory capabilities with U.S. government priorities and facilitating collaboration across technical and policy domains.

Hecht’s professional background spans project management, international development, operations, and organizational support. Her experience includes managing large-scale federal projects, supporting strategic planning efforts, and overseeing budgeting and reporting functions.

Hecht brings deep expertise in program operations, contracting, stakeholder coordination, and cross-functional team leadership—ensuring projects are delivered efficiently, compliantly, and with high impact.

Earlier in her career, she contributed to field-based environmental and agricultural initiatives, which inform her pragmatic, results-driven approach to managing complex energy programs.