Reorganization Links Employee / Department Performance and Emphasizes Health and Safety

WASHINGTON, D.C. -The Department of the Interior has reorganized its Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget, Assistant Secretary Lynn Scarlett announced today. Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton signed an order implementing the changes on June 24.

"This reorganization helps us to fully integrate and align performance and management with human resources policy and planning," says Assistant Secretary Scarlett. "It supports the implementation of our Strategic Human Capital Management Plan by strengthening the alignment of the functions related to the recruitment, training, advancement, and retention of a highly skilled and diverse workforce.

"The reorganization also places greater emphasis on our responsibilities for the health and safety of our employees," Scarlett says. "The restructuring also facilitates more integrated management of the Department's facilities and assets, a key goal of the President's Executive Order on Federal Real Property Asset Management."

The functions of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Performance and Management and the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Workforce Diversity are combined under the newly titled position of Deputy Assistant Secretary for Performance, Accountability and Human Resources. Scott Cameron, formerly Deputy Assistant Secretary for Performance and Management, assumes the expanded role. The position of Deputy Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Workforce Diversity, which has been vacant, is eliminated.

Reporting to the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Performance, Accountability, and Human Resources is a new career position, Deputy Chief Human Capital Officer. Kathleen Wheeler, who has been serving as Executive Director of the Department's Management Initiatives Team, has been named to this position. Wheeler will oversee the Office of Human Resources (formerly the Office of Personnel Policy), the Office of Civil Rights (formerly the Office for Equal Opportunity), and a newly established Office of Occupational Health and Safety. Sharon Eller, formerly the Chief Human Capital Officer for the Office of the Inspector General, has been named as the Director of the Office of Civil Rights.

The Office of Managing Risk and Public Safety is being eliminated as part of the restructuring and its functions transferred. Diane Schmitz, formerly the Team Leader for Occupational Health and Safety within the Office of Managing Risk and Public Safety, will head the Office of Occupational Health and Safety. The facilities functions will be transferred to the Office of Acquisition and Property Management.

In recognition of the full suite of her responsibilities, Nina Rose Hatfield's position as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Budget and Finance has been retitled Deputy Assistant Secretary for Business Management and Wildland Fire. Mark Oliver, formerly the Director of the Office of Educational Partnerships, has been named Business Management Executive Officer for Hatfield.

The roles and responsibilities of the Office of Acquisition and Property Management have been expanding, including significant involvement in the planning and implementation of the Department's new financial and business management system (FBMS). To provide needed assistance, Melodee Stith has been named the Associate Director for Acquisition and Financial Assistance. She had previously served as the Director of the Office for Equal Opportunity.