M. Lou Balmer-Millar

Dr. Lou Balmer-Millar is the 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 Caterpillar’s customers during the energy transition and help them achieve their climate-related objectives by geography, application, and specific customer need.

Dr. Balmer-Millar is also a senior vice president of Caterpillar Inc., responsible for the Large Power Systems Division within the Energy & 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 include Cat machines, electric power generation, marine, oil & gas, industrial, and locomotive. 

Before 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 high-speed diesel 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, responsible for the execution and governance of Caterpillar’s technology strategy. She held the role of product manager for the Fuel Systems division. 

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