Senior Executives Group Names New President After Nearly 1-Year Gap
Bill Valdez worked two decades at the Energy Department, and has also served as a senior adviser in the White House.
The professional organization representing senior executives in government on Tuesday announced that it has named a former Energy Department official as its new president, after almost a year under interim leadership.
In addition to serving at Energy for more than 20 years, Bill Valdez was a senior adviser in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, the Senior Executives Association said. He earned several high honors for his work, including the Presidential Meritorious Rank Award, and was elected to SEA’s Board of Directors in 2005.
Valdez retired from government in 2014, but has been working as a consultant on energy and environment issues and as an adjunct faculty member at American University’s School of Public Affairs.
“He upholds our core values of professional integrity and a strong commitment to public service, and we are thrilled to have him once again in a leadership role within the organization,” said SEA board chairwoman Barbara Pabotoy, in a statement.
The association has been without a permanent president since the retirement of Carol Bonosaro in November 2015. Former Energy Department human resources manager Tim Dirks served as interim leader after Bonosaro stepped down, but then left for personal reasons in the winter, handing the reins to Legislative Director Jason Briefel.
Briefel will now return to his former role, but Pabotoy thanked him for his service as interim president. “With his knowledge of the legislative and political landscape, he has brought a keen comprehension of successful strategic planning and implementation that will complement Bill’s experience in the federal community,” she said.