Comings and Goings

A regular feature of GovExec.com, Comings and Goings announces the arrivals and departures of top federal managers and executives. To submit an announcement, e-mail it to webmaster@govexec.com or fax it to 202-739-8511.

C O M I N G S

Defense Secretary William Cohen has picked Rear Adm. John R. Ryan to be the next superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy. Ryan, the commander of Fleet Air and Maritime Air Forces in the Mediterranean, will return from his post in Naples, Italy, and be promoted to vice admiral. If confirmed by the Senate, Ryan will succeed Adm. Charles R. Larson at the academy.

The FBI's Ruben Garcia Jr., now special agent in charge of the San Antonio, Texas, field office, has been appointed to head the bureau's personnel division at FBI Headquarters in Washington. Garcia started with the FBI in 1978 as a special agent, and has worked on bank robbery, kidnapping, drug trafficking, domestic terrorism, national security, civil rights, and white collar crimes cases. Now he'll be in charge of recruitment, selection and hiring of all FBI personnel. Garcia succeeds James A. Oppy, who is retiring after 27 years with the FBI.

Stephen J. Cossu has been appointed as the Labor Department's assistant inspector general for investigations after serving as the deputy assistant inspector general for investigations since October 1996. Cossu has been with Labor's IG office since 1985.

G O I N G S

Vice President Al Gore's foreign policy spokesman and chief speechwriter, Jonathan Spalter, is heading to the U.S. Information Agency to become associate director for information. Spalter previously served as the National Security Council's public affairs director, and as assistant White House press secretary for international affairs. Spalter also worked at the Pentagon as special assistant in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy.

K U D O S

U.S. Forest Service Chief Mike Dombeck earned a conservation leadership award from the Eugene, Ore.-based Pacific Rivers Council last week. The council praised Dombeck for his opposition to overlogging in national forests.