High-ranking GSA acquisition official to retire
Departure of G. Martin Wagner marks second time in recent months that a senior GSA official involved in e-gov efforts has announced plans to leave.
The deputy commissioner of the General Services Administration's recently reorganized acquisition arm announced his retirement Monday.
G. Martin Wagner, deputy commissioner of GSA's Federal Acquisition Service and a 31-year veteran of the federal government, is the second senior agency official who has been involved in the Bush administration's electronic government effort to announce retirement plans in the last three months.
At FAS, Wagner oversaw the acquisition of more than $50 billion in products and services for federal agencies. He managed a workforce of more than 4,000 employees responsible for information technology services, all major federal telecommunications contracts and 200,000 motor vehicles. Wagner's last day is Jan. 31.
Wagner previously served as the acting FAS commissioner, and spent 10 years as associate administrator for GSA's former Office of Governmentwide Policy. As head of that office, he was heavily involved in the Office of Management and Budget's e-government initiatives.
John Sindelar, who served as the acting head of GSA's Office of Governmentwide Policy after Wagner moved to FAS, in November 2006 announced plans to retire. Sindelar also played an important role in implementing e-government.
Wagner's successor will be named later, GSA said in a statement.
"Marty will be greatly missed," said GSA Administrator Lurita Doan. "His leadership and experience were invaluable assets in helping us establish the Federal Acquisition Service."
FAS Commissioner Jim Williams said that since FAS's creation in October 2006 through the merger of the former Federal Technology and Federal Supply services, Wagner "has been central to successfully engaging our customer agencies, industry contractors, congressional committees and the entire FAS team."
From 1990 to 1995, Wagner served as GSA's senior manager for information technology and telecommunications. Before he joined GSA, he directed telecommunications at the Treasury Department and evaluated telecommunications issues at the Office of Management and Budget. He also worked at the Environmental Protection Agency.
Wagner received both Meritorious and Distinguished Presidential Rank Awards.
According to a GSA announcement, he and his wife plan to remain in the Washington, D.C., area.