Posts to be Filled by New Regime

Appointments Could Include Qualified Geologists

The administration that takes office this coming January will seek to fill a wide range of politically appointed positions in the executive branch. Many of those positions deal with issues important to geoscientists. Indeed, many positions could be filled by qualified geoscientists.

The American Geological Institute has compiled a list (below) identifying positions that could be important to its member societies - and the groups are being encouraged to use this list to propose qualified individuals to the presidential transition team.

Lee Gerhard, chairman of the Division of Professional Affairs Government Action Committee, said the list of appointments "are opportunities where geologists could serve."

Gerhard said members who are interested in the positions should contact the appropriate personnel office or their Congressional delegation for guidance.

This list includes positions ranging from Cabinet level to personal assistants found in many different departments and independent agencies as well as the executive office of the president.

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The administration that takes office this coming January will seek to fill a wide range of politically appointed positions in the executive branch. Many of those positions deal with issues important to geoscientists. Indeed, many positions could be filled by qualified geoscientists.

The American Geological Institute has compiled a list (below) identifying positions that could be important to its member societies - and the groups are being encouraged to use this list to propose qualified individuals to the presidential transition team.

Lee Gerhard, chairman of the Division of Professional Affairs Government Action Committee, said the list of appointments "are opportunities where geologists could serve."

Gerhard said members who are interested in the positions should contact the appropriate personnel office or their Congressional delegation for guidance.

This list includes positions ranging from Cabinet level to personal assistants found in many different departments and independent agencies as well as the executive office of the president.

There are three major types of appointed positions:

♦  Presidential Appointments requiring Senate confirmation (H)- These positions require approval by the appropriate Senate committee with jurisdiction over that particular sector of the federal government (e.g. the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee would have oversight on the assistant to the president for Science and Technology Policy).

Most high-ranking positions in both departments and independent agencies are this type of appointment.

♦  Schedule C Appointment (q) - These positions are appointed under Schedule C of the civil service rules, meaning that these positions are appointed by the agency head. Many of the support and technical positions within an office are filled by people in this group, such as the senior policy advisor for environmental affairs at the Department of Energy and the special assistant to the NOAA administrator.

♦  Non-Career Senior Executive Service Appointment (m) - These appointment are top-level executive, policy-making, managerial and supervisory positions that do not fall under the general civil service hierarchy, such as the associate chief for natural resources at the Forest Service.

Senior Executive Service (SES) appointments do not require congressional oversight but do require approval by the Office of Personal Management.

In addition to the appointed positions listed here, there are several regular civil service positions that are likely to turn over in a new administration. For example, the Minerals Management Service director is indicated as a career SES, but typically this position has been filled by a political appointee.

This list was compiled by Margaret Baker, AGI Government Affairs Program, from the Federal Yellow Book (Summer 2000 Edition) and other sources. Please direct any questions to [email protected], or 703-379-2480, ext. 212.

Executive Office of the President
Office of Science and Technology Policy

  • Assistant to the President for Science and Technology Policy - Neal Lane
    • Chief of Staff - Holly Gwin
  • Associate Director for Environment - Rosina Bierbaum
  • Associate Director for Science - Arthur Bienenstock
    • Confidential Assistant - Elizabeth Gregory

Council on Environmental Quality

  • Chair, Council on Environmental Quality - George Frampton
    • Special Assistant to Chair of CEQ - Nancy Marlow
    • Associate Director for Toxics and Environmental Protection - Gabrielle Tenzer
  • Deputy Assistant to the President for Environmental Initiatives - Roger Ballentine

Office of Management and Budget

  • Associate Director of Natural Resources, Energy and Science - Wesley Warren

Department of Agriculture

  • Under Secretary of Natural Resources and Environment - James Lyons
    • Executive Assistant - Margaret Wetherald
    • Deputy Undersecretary for Conservation - Glenda Humiston

Forest Service

  • Associate Chief for Natural Resources - Hilda Diaz-Soltero

Natural Resources Conservation Service

  • Associate Chief - Danny Sells

Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

  • Under Secretary of Oceans and Atmosphere/Administrator - James Baker
    • Counselor to the Under Secretary - Susan Fruchter
      • Special Assistant to the Under Secretary - Dana Palmer
  • Assistant Secretary/Deputy Administrator for Oceans and Atmosphere - Scott Gudes
    • Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere - Sally Yozell
  • Chief Scientists - vacant
    • Director, Office of Public and Constituent Affairs - Barbara Semedo
      • Director, Office of Legislative Affairs - Brian Wheeler
      • Director, Policy and Strategic Planning - Susan Fruchter

National Ocean Service

  • Director of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management - Jeffrey Benoit

Department of Defense

Defense Research and Engineering

  • Director for Defense Research and Engineering - Hans Mark
    • Confidential Assistant - Dede Anderson

Office of Acquisition, Technology and Logistics; Environmental Security

  • Deputy Under Secretary - Sherri Goodman
  • Environmental Cleanup Assistant Deputy Under Secretary - Karla Perri

Navy Research, Development and Acquisition

  • Assistant Secretary - Herbert Lee Buchanan

Department of Energy

  • Secretary of Energy - Bill Richardson
    • Senior Policy Advisor for Electricity and Energy Efficiency - Richard Glick
    • Senior Policy Advisor for Environmental Affairs - Ellen Livingston-Behan
      • Director, Office of Policy - Melanie Kinderdine
  • Assistant Secretary for International Affairs - David L. Goldwyn
    • Chief of Staff - Matt Willis
    • Senior Advisor - Teresa Beeman
  • Deputy Secretary - T.J. Glauthier
  • Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy - Dan Reicher
    • Chief of Staff - Brian Castelli
    • Principle Deputy Assistant Secretary - David Leiter
    • Special Assistant - Gregory Kats
  • Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy - vacant
    • Executive Officer - Gerald Reed
    • Senior Staff Assistant - Kristin Thorn

Natural Gas & Petroleum Technology

    • Deputy Assistant Secretary - Emil Pena
      • Special Assistant for Deputy Assistant Secretary - Marti Thomas
  • Under Secretary for Energy, Science and Environment - Ernest Muniz
  • Director, Office of Science - Mildred S. Dresselhaus
    • Special Assistant - Robert Sevigny
    • Staff Assistant - Stuart Goldstein
    • Assistant Director for Communications and Science Education - Samuel Rodriguez
    • Special Assistant - Lourdes Tinajero
  • Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management - Carolyn Huntoon
    • Special Assistant - Matt Nerzig

Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management

  • Director - Ivan Itkins

Energy Information Administration

  • Administrator - vacant

Department of the Interior

  • Secretary of the Interior - Bruce Babbitt
    • Special Assistant - Elizabeth Johnson
    • Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff - Katherine Lapin
    • Assistant to the Secretary for Alaska - Marilyn Heiman
    • Special Assistant to the External Affairs Director - Suzanna Hubbell
  • Deputy Secretary - David Hayes
  • Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks - Jamie Rappaport Clark

National Park Service

  • Deputy Director - Denis Galvin
    • Assistant Secretary for Lands and Mineral Management - Sylvia Baca
      • Special Assistant - David Alberwerth

Bureau of Land Management

  • Director of the Bureau of Land Management - Thomas Fry
    • Special Assistant - Gregory Evans
    • Special Assistant - Denise Ryan

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

  • Director - Katherine Henry
    • Chief of Staff - Margy White
    • Special Assistant - Richard Fiesta
  • Assistant Secretary for Water and Science - Mary Doyle
    • Counselor - David Cottingham

U.S. Geological Survey

  • Director - Charles "Chip" Groat

Bureau of Reclamation

  • H Commissioner - Levi Martinez
    • Special Assistant - Christopher Thompson

Department of State

  • Assistant Secretary for Oceans, International Environment and Scientific Affairs - David Sandalow

Environmental Protection Agency

  • Administrator - Carol Browner
    • Chief of Staff - Reid Wilson
  • Assistant Administrator for Administration and Resource Management - Romulo Diaz
  • Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation - Robert Perciasepe
  • Assistant Administrator for Research and Development - Norine Noonan
  • Assistant Administrator for Solid Waste and Emergency Response - Timothy Fields
  • Assistant Administrator for Water - Charles Fox
    • Deputy Assistant Administrator - Dana Minerva
    • Deputy Assistant Administrator - Diane Regas

Federal Emergency Management Agency

  • Director of FEMA - James Lee Witt
    • Executive Assistant - Michael Coen
  • Deputy Director - vacant
  • Inspector General - George Opfer
  • Associate Director for Mitigation - Michael Armstrong

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

  • Director - Daniel Goldin

National Science Foundation

  • Director - Rita Colwell
  • Deputy Director - Joseph Bordogna
    • Head of the Polar Research Support Section - Erick Chiang

National Science Board

  • Chair and members of the National Science Board (fixed terms) - several

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

  • Chair and commissioners (fixed terms) - several

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