Every Wednesday on 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
M. Richard Porras will be the U.S. Postal Service's new Chief Financial Officer. Porras replaces Michael J. Riley, who is retiring in October. Porras has been with the Postal Service for 35 years, the last 12 of which he spent as controller. He started his career in 1963 in clerk craft positions.
In other CFO news, the State Department's top finance spot will be taken by Bert T. Edwards, a 34-year veteran of the Washington office of Arthur Andersen LLP. Edwards headed the firm's audits and consulting for governments, nonprofit organizations and higher education institutions. In addition, he is involved in a wide range of extracurricular activities, including the National Committee on Public Employee Pension Systems, the Population Reference Bureau and the DC Appleseed Center.
New Army Secretary Louis Caldera was officially sworn in last week. He replaces Togo West, who is now head of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
At VA, West has created a new executive position to improve information technology management at the department. He selected Chief of Staff Harold F. Gracey, Jr., to serve in an acting capacity in the new position, assistant secretary for information and technology. Once an official assistant secretary is in place, Gracey will become the principal deputy assistant secretary for information and technology. Leigh Bradley, a special assistant to Secretary West, will serve as chief of staff until a new one is picked.
G O I N G S
The Interior Department's press secretary, Mary Helen Thompson, has left for the AFL-CIO, where she will be director of public and legislative affairs for a housing and building investment program.
Al Gore is also losing a spin doctor. Andrei Cherney, the vice president's 22-year-old whiz kid speechwriter is heading to the Democratic Leadership Council to serve as editor of a new quarterly magazine called Blueprint.
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