Bio
Hillary K. Fishler is a mixed-methodologies researcher in coupled human systems, with a focus on socioeconomic aspects of US energy infrastructure and technology, cyber risk assessment and data security, and management for grid resilience and reliability. She brings subject matter expertise in social science and environmental policy, institutional analysis and design, wildland fire ecology, land use ecology and vegetation management, econometrics, and mixed-methods coupled-human systems analysis. Key career accomplishments include:
- Serving as the Lead for Data Governance and Risk Management, positioning ORNL as a national leader in electricity data stewardship, risk assessment, and mitigation and national security strategies that now inform lab-and-complex-wide practices.
- Serving as the Lead for Utility Partnerships and Resilience, translating complex resilience challenges into actionable strategies using narrative storytelling, geospatial tools, and systems modeling.
- Supporting development of cross-regional technology and innovation hubs, including the development and execution of community and stakeholder engagement frameworks and benchmarks.
- Spearheading data governance standards across research portfolios, establishing frameworks for: risk assessment, user role-based access controls, data curation and storage standards aligned with DOE and National Institute for Standards and Technology policies, and
- Serving as a lead for technical assistance across State Energy Offices and the national Lead for Utility Engagement and Collaboration for Critical Infrastructure Resilience, translating complex resilience challenges into actionable strategies using narrative storytelling, geospatial tools, and systems modeling.
Education
- PhD (2017): Environmental Social Science & Public Policy, Oregon State University
- MPP (2012): Master of Public Policy, Environmental Economics, Oregon State University
- BA (2009): Science & Technical Writing, Grand Valley State University
Professional Affiliations
- Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management
- American Academy of Environmental Engineers & Scientists
- International Association for Society & Natural Resources
Other Publications
- Fishler, H.K. and A.B. May Data Portal Standards for Discovery, Access and Usability across the DOE National Laboratory Complex. ORNL Report, 2026. ORNL/LTR-2026/4346.
- Fishler, H.K., A.B. May, N.G. Pricope, S. Flampouris, and J. Gupta. Partnerships for Transformation AI Models. ORNL Technical Memo Pre-solicitation Response to DOE Office of Science, Advanced Scientific Computing Research. ORNL/TM-2024-4410.
- Fishler, H.K., A.B. May, K. Knight, N.G. Pricope, and L. Rébillout. GORMan: A framework for Governance, Ontologies, and Risk Management of scalable, cross-sector integration of secure energy-water infrastructure. ORNL White Paper, 2025. ORNL/TM-2026-4409.
- Fishler, H.K. A North Carolina Retrospective: Major Outage Event Trends and Hurricane Helene. ORNL Report, 2025.
- Rahaman, N., Kobayashi-Carvalhaes, T., Pricope, N., Fishler, H.K., Denman, M., and Chinthavali, (2026). A spatial-temporal non-parametric test to identify county-level power outage trends in the United States. Applied Energy (forthcoming 2026).
- Fishler, H.K. and S.Chinthavali. TASTI-GRID: A holistic view of Florida’s grid resilience opportunities. ORNL Report, 2025. ORNL/TM-2026-4403.
- May, A.B., & Fishler, H.K. (2025). Open Energy Hub’s Governance and Curation Standards: Increasing discoverability while mitigating risk to Critical Energy Infrastructure Information. ORNL Software & Data Expo.
- Hagerman, J., & Fishler, H.K. (2025). Developing a Comprehensive Strategy for Electric Grid Resilience in Mississippi: A Blueprint for Investment and Policy Integration – Report for Mississippi’s Office of the Governor.
- Fishler, H.K., Tansakul, V., & Chinthavali, S. TASTI-GRID: State of Virginia’s Grid Resilience. ORNL Report, 2025.
- Fishler, H.K., Tansakul, V., & Chinthavali, S. TASTI-GRID: State of Tennessee’s Grid Resilience. ORNL Report, 2025.
- Fishler, H.K., Tansakul, V., & Chinthavali, S. TASTI-GRID: State of Oregon’s Grid Resilience. ORNL Report, 2025.
- Fishler, H.K. Map of Data Centers across Oregon Counties. ORNL Report, 2025.
- Fishler, H.K., Tansakul, V., & Chinthavali, S. TASTI-GRID: State of Mississippi’s Grid Resilience. ORNL Report, 2025.
- Iyer, G.V., Chinthavali, S., and Fishler, H.K. Data Centers as Positive Disruptions to the Electric Grid. In T&D World Magazine, October 2025 Edition.
- Iyer, G.V., Chinthavali, S., and Fishler, H.K. MEGA-DC: Modeling Energy Growth Associated with Data Centers - a holistic platform for accelerated, informed, & energy-resilient data center deployment. Briefing to DOE Grid Deployment Office, June 2025.
- Hagerman, J., Pricope, N., & Fishler, H.K. (2025). From Data to Action: Building Resilience in Mississippi Counties. Report for Mississippi Development Authority.
- Fishler, H.K. TASTI-GRID: Technical Assistance for States & Tribes Initiative: Grid Resilience Investment Decision-making. ORNL Fact Sheet, 2025.
- Fishler, H.K. MEGA-DC: Modeling Energy Growth Associated with Data Centers. ORNL Fact Sheet, 2025.
- Fishler, H.K. EDGAR: Enhancing Distribution Grid Anticipatory Resilience. ORNL Fact Sheet, 2025.
- Fishler, H.K. GTMI: Grid Technology Modernization Indices. ORNL Fact Sheet, 2025.
- Fishler, H.K. Critical Infrastructure Resilience – Core Capabilities. ORNL Fact Sheet, 2025.
- Fishler, H.K & Rains, B. Our Regional Living Laboratory – the EDGAR Initiative. TVPPA Magazine, Summer/Fall 2025.
- Fishler, H.K., Howard, R.H., Miller, S., & Wright, K. (2023). NSF ExLENT: Asynchronous Distance Experiential Learning (ADEL). Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
- Fishler, H.K. & Fujimoto, K.T. (2023). Enabling Success: Enhancing Accessibility in Professional Societies and Program for Disabled Individuals. JOM, 75; 3231-3233. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-023-06031-x
- Fishler, Hillary K., Smith, Angela J., Sandi-Tapia, Giselle, Braase, Lori A., Pillars of Innovation Across Southeast Idaho & the Interstate-15 Corridor, INL/RPT-23-72177, March 2023.
- Fishler, H.K., Guaita, N., Davis, D.D., Graves, J.D (2023). Nuclear microreactors and the policy landscape: Benefits and challenges to implementing emergent technologies in US rural & tribal communities. Journal of Cri. Infrastructure Policy.
- Mockrin, M., Fishler, H.K. Kramer, H.A., Radeloff, V.C., and Stewart, S.I. (2022). A tale of two fires: Retreat and rebound a decade after wildfires in California & South Carolina. Society & Natural Resources. doi: 10.101080/08941920.2022.2081895
- Carter, T.L., Fishler, H.K. (Principal Investigator), Joe, J., Borders, T., and Carroll, R. (2021). Envisioning a resilient and inclusive future. Community perspectives on a city of promise. Submitted for the City of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Connecting Us, Sustaining Progress.
- Mockrin, M., Fishler, H.K., and Stewart, S.I. (2020). After the fire: Perceptions of land use planning to reduce wildfire risk in eight communities across the United States. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction.
- Fishler, H.K., Mockrin, M., and Stewart, S.I. (2019). Response and future readiness: Vegetation mitigation after destructive wildfire. In Green Readiness, Response and Recovery.
- Mockrin, M.H., Fishler, H.K., and Stewart, S.I. (2018). Does wildfire open a policy window? Local government and community adaptation after fire. Environmental Management.
- Fishler, H.K. (2014). U.S. Research Works Act. In Science and Politics: An A-to-Z Guide to Issues and Controversies. Brent S. Steel (ed). Sage/CQ Press.
- Steel, B.S., and Fishler H.K. (2014). Wildfire management. In Science and Politics: An A-to-Z Guide to Issues and Controversies. Brent S. Steel (ed). Sage/CQ Press.
- Lurie, S., Duncan, S., Bennett, D., & Fishler, H. (2012). Local ecosystem services marketplaces: Public utilities as development drivers. Institute for Natural Resources: Technical Report for the Bullitt Foundation.
- Duncan, S., Lurie, S., Morgenstern, K., Toth, N., Bennett, D., & Fishler, H. (2012). EWEB’s Vision: Payments for ecosystem services through a Voluntary Incentives Program; An innovative, incentive-based approach for preserving water quality in the McKenzie River Watershed. Institute for Natural Resources.