M. Lou Balmer-Millar

Dr. Lou Balmer-Millar is Chief Sustainability Officer of Caterpillar Inc., reporting directly to the Chairman and CEO. Sustainability is an important focus area of Caterpillar’s long-term strategy for profitable growth, and this role further enhances the advancement of product solutions to support our customers during the energy transition and help them achieve their climate-related objectives by geography, by application and by specific customer need.

Dr. Balmer-Millar is also a senior vice president of Caterpillar Inc. with responsibility for the Large Power Systems Division within the Energy and Transportation segment. Through this global organization, Caterpillar designs and manufactures the most comprehensive lineup of large diesel and natural gas engines in the industry, as well as the design and manufacturing of engine components and powertrains. The large engine product portfolio includes Cat, Perkins and MWM branded products. Applications served include Cat machines, electric power generation, marine, oil & gas, industrial and locomotive. 

Prior to her current appointment, Dr. Balmer-Millar served as Large Power Systems Division general manager of high-speed engines and components responsible for delivering customer and shareholder value for three diesel high-speed large engine platforms. She led a global team that included platform product development, performance development, engine simulation and core engine component solutions. Prior to that, she was the Director of Research and Advanced Engineering with responsibility for execution and governance of Caterpillar’s technology strategy and held the role of Product Manager for the Fuel Systems division. 

Before joining Caterpillar in 2001, Dr. Balmer-Millar led research efforts in the areas of materials and chemical engineering at the Environmental Molecular Science Laboratory of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University and a Ph.D. in Materials Science from the University of California at Santa Barbara. In the Peoria, IL area, Dr. Balmer-Millar is on the board of the Multiple Sclerosis Council, and she is a member of the Society of Women Engineers.