Selection of Staff Assistant Date: Thu, 21 May 1998 09:09:42 -0500 To: "A - Division Chief and Staff", "B - Branch Chiefs and Offices", "DC - All District Chiefs", "AO - All Administrative Officers" From: "Robert M. Hirsch" (by way of Jan Arneson) Subject: Selection of Staff Assistant Cc: "Thomas J Casadevall Reston, VA ", "Bonnie M Mcgregor Reston, VA ", "Barbara J Ryan Reston, VA ", "Robert M Hirsch, Chief Hydrologist, Reston, VA ", "P. Patrick Leahy, Chief Geologist, Reston, VA ", "Richard E Witmer Reston, VA ", "William F Gossman Jr. Reston, VA ", "Pamela R Malam Reston, VA ", "Dennis B Fenn, Chief Biologist, Reston, VA ", " , WRD Archive File, Reston, VA " In Reply Refer To: Mail Stop 409 MEMORANDUM May 21, 1998 To: Distribution A, B, DC, AO From: Robert M. Hirsch /signed/ Chief Hydrologist Subject: Selection of Staff Assistant to the Chief Hydrologist I am pleased to announce the selection of Steve Blanchard for the position of staff assistant to the Chief Hydrologist which was advertised recently. In creating this position, the intent was for the incumbent to provide high-level support to me on a wide range of issues, both programmatic and managerial, as well as to provide a career development opportunity for an individual with strong potential for future leadershilp responsibilities in the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Steve brings an outstanding mix of scientific and managerial experience to this new position. The early years of his career with the USGS were in the National Research Program (NRP), working on the Potomac Estuary Study. From there he went through the Water Resources Division's (WRD) Graduate School Program and earned a master's degree in Water Resources Engineering from Oregon State University. He transferred from the NRP to the Illinois District to work on the NAWQA pilot study on the Upper Illinois River Basin, and later became chief of that project. In 1991, he became Illinois District Chief. In 1996, he returned to Reston as Deputy Assistant Chief Hydrologist for Operations. Steve is widely recognized for his skill and vision in surface-water quantity and quality programs, management issues, and personnel issues. As staff assistant, Steve will have a wide range of tasks including frequent participation in interdivisional and interagency activities in which WRD needs to have high-level representation. He will act as Executive Secretary to the WRD Senior Staff, assuring the development of effective agendas and follow-through for on-going Senior Staff issues. He will serve as an advisor to the Senior Staff on many policy issues and be assigned the tasks of overseeing the formulation and revision of many short-term and long-term policies, programs and plans. One of his major initial tasks will be the evolution and refinement of WRD policy positions regarding contracting out of services and competition with the private sector. Steve is a person who many field-based managers have come to trust as a problem solver, advisor, and sounding board for their concerns. It is my hope that he will continue to be viewed in this manner across the Division. Because of the critical nature of Steve's present position as Deputy Assistant Chief Hydrologist for Operations, we will not reassign him to the Staff Assistant position until his successor is chosen. I know that all of you will support him in this challenging new position. *************************************************************** * Robert M. Hirsch rhirsch@usgs.gov * * 409 National Center 703-648-5215 * * U.S. Geological Survey fax 703-648-5002 * * Reston, VA 20192 * ***************************************************************