Office of the Secretary

Contact: John Wright
202-208-6416

WASHINGTON -- Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton announced today that Ross Swimmer, a former Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs, prominent Indian attorney and banker will serve as the Director of the Office of Indian Trust Transition. The appointment is effective on Nov. 26, 2001.

"Ross Swimmer has the professional background and wealth of experience that are critical to handling the responsibilities of this very important project," said Secretary Norton. "His knowledge, commitment, impressive array of management and advocacy skills will provide the leadership that is required to transition the Indian trust program."

As the Director of the Office of Indian Trust Transition (OITT), Mr. Swimmer will be responsible for planning and implementing the actions needed to consolidate Indian trust functions, currently located throughout the Department into one organization unit. Mr. Swimmer will seek to ensure effective consultation occurs with Indian tribes, Congress, DOI employees and other interested parties. He will provide executive leadership and direction to ensure sufficient personnel and budgetary resources are provided, organizational units are properly defined and strategic plans for trust activities are properly developed.

Swimmer has extensive experience working with Indian issues from the federal perspective. He served at the Interior Department during the Reagan Administration (1985-1989), as Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs. He was responsible for the general policy regarding Indian affairs and oversight of Indian activities. During his three-year stint at Interior, he had direct experience with the management of tribal trust funds and settlement of tribal water right claims in the West.

Mr. Swimmer also served as principal chief of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, where he was elected to three successive terms. Under his leadership, he focused on implementing the concept of self-help for rural development, which became a model for Indian tribes and rural areas throughout the country. During his tenure, the Cherokee Nation was recognized as innovative and progressive. His accomplishments as principal chief include improving economic development, health care, rural housing, water and waste water facilities, and education.

Mr. Swimmer, a member of the Cherokee Nation, served as president of the Cherokee Group, L.L.C., since 1995. The Group is a consulting firm that represents Indian clients engaged in government issues at the state and federal level, and supports the development of businesses on Indian lands. Prior positions include serving as "of counsel" to the law firm of Hall, Estill, Hardwick, Gable, Golden & Nelson, P.C., where he organized the Indian law practice section of the firm. He served as Chairman of First State Bank located in Hulbert, Okla., at the time, one of only two American Indian owned banks in the U.S. Before that he was Chairman and CEO of Cherokee Nation Industries, a manufacturing company that he reorganized in the mid-1970's during his term as principal chief.

With his roots in Oklahoma, Swimmer attended Oklahoma University, where he received both his Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees.