People: Execs go postal

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.

Mary Anne Gibbons has been named general counsel and vice president of the Postal Service. Gibbons, who assumes the new position in February, replaces Mary S. Elcano, who has resigned to join a Washington law firm. As USPS' chief corporate lawyer, Gibbons will counsel the Postal Service board of governors and agency management. Gibbons has worked at USPS for 15 years and is currently the deputy general counsel.

Also at USPS, Patrick R. Donahoe, has been named senior vice president of human resources. Currently vice president of HR, Donahoe will now coordinate employee resource management, diversity development and labor relations at the agency. He has served at USPS for 23 years.

Finally, Peter Jacobson has rejoined the Postal Service as chief technology officer after a five-year stint in the private sector. Jacobson, who spent 24 years at USPS, replaces Norm Lorentz, who joined earthweb.com earlier this year.

Army Undersecretary Bernard D. Rostker has been nominated to be DoD's undersecretary of Defense for personnel and readiness. He would replace Rudy de Leon, who will likely move on to become deputy Defense Secretary. Rostker also serves as special assistant to the deputy Defense Secretary for Gulf War Illnesses. Prior to his current positions, he served as assistant Secretary of the Navy for manpower and reserve affairs.

Anne Reed, outgoing chief information officer at the Department of Agriculture, is beginning a new career at EDS Global Government Industry Group on February 1. Reed will serve as vice president for industry relations. In that role, she will build and enhance relationships with industry and government partners. EDS is a management consulting and electronic business solutions firm.

Kudos to David L. Macheel, chief engineer at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in San Francisco, Ca., who was recently awarded a 1999 Federal Energy and Water Management Award for implementing an energy and emissions reduction program. Macheel had energy efficient equipment installed at the medical center at no upfront cost to the agency, under a special contract that will be paid for by the savings it generates. The project is estimated to reduce energy and operational costs by $528,000 and energy consumption by 13.7 percent.