Every Monday on GovExec.com, the People column announces the arrivals and departures of top federal managers and executives. To submit an announcement, e-mail it to ksaldarini@govexec.com or fax it to 202-739-8511.
In a flurry of pre-adjournment productivity, the Senate last week confirmed a host of pending executive branch nominations. The top appointees who got the Senate's nod before lawmakers scurried out of Washington are:
- Paul Steven Miller, reappointed as a member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
- Irasema Garza as director of the Women's Bureau at the Labor Department.
- T. Michael Kerr as administrator of the Labor Department's Wage and Hour Division.
- Anthony Musick as Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service.
- Susan M. Wachter as an assistant secretary at the Housing and Urban Development Department.
- Neal S. Wolin as general counsel for the Treasury Department.
- Linda J. Bilmes as Chief Financial Officer for the Commerce Department.
- Joseph R. Crapa as an assistant administrator of the Agency for International Development.
For a full list of recently confirmed appointees, click here.
George Nesterczuk, staff director of the House Civil Service Subcommittee, is leaving the legislative branch. Nesterczuk has been a heavy hitter at the subcommittee since the Republicans took control of Congress in the 104th Congress. Nesterczuk also served in the Reagan administration at the Office of Personnel Management, the Defense Department and the Transportation Department. Nesterczuk has been honored with the President's executive leadership award and OPM's director's award for distinguished service.
Assistant FBI director Ruben Garcia has been chosen to head the FBI's criminal investigative division. Garcia, a 21-year agent and executive, will succeed Thomas J. Pickard, who will become the FBI's second in command on Dec. 1. Garcia has served as assistant director in charge of recruiting and hiring and, before that, was special agent in charge of the San Antonio, Texas, field office beginning in August 1996.
Laura Skaff, a former Health and Human Services Department employee, is joining the Council for Excellence in Government. Skaff most recently worked at the National Academy of Public Administration and SRA International as a consultant to agencies on the Government Performance and Results Act. At the Council, she will serve as director of government performance.
Q. Todd Dickinson, an intellectual property lawyer, has been confirmed as assistant secretary of commerce and commissioner of patents and trademarks at the Patent and Trademark Office. Dickinson has been the acting patent and trademark guru since the beginning of the year, when Bruce A. Lehman left. Anne Chasser will take over as the new assistant commissioner for trademarks. Chasser most recently served as senior advisor to Commerce Secretary William Daley. Also coming on board at PTO is Clarence Crawford, formerly associate director for administration at the Office of Management and Budget. Crawford will serve as Chief Financial Officer for PTO.
Peter Aliferis, former director of special projects at the General Accounting Office, has been named the new director of the USDA Graduate School's Government Audit Training Institute. Aliferis spent 25 years at GAO, last serving as director of special projects.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has a new chief of meteorological services. Jamison S. Hawkins will replace Richard Przywarty, who has taken over as the National Weather Service's Alaska regional director. Hawkins has spent 21 years at NOAA. In his new position he will manage the main short-term weather forecasts provided to the public by the National Weather Service.
Donald M. Feuerstein has left the Education Department to become president of New American Schools, a nonprofit that helps public schools with comprehensive reform. Feuerstein, a six-year veteran of Education, last served as a senior advisor specializing in education technology, school construction and student loans.
General Dynamics has announced that retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. David K. Heebner will join the company in January 2000 as vice president for strategic planning. Heebner has been assistant vice chief of staff of the Army since July 1997. He is retiring from the Army on Dec. 31, 1999, after a military career of 31 years.