David L. Bernhardt of Colorado Named
Deputy Chief of Staff
Matthew Eames Named Acting Director
For Congressional & Legislative Affairs

Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton today praised President Bush's appointment of David Longly Bernhardt to be deputy chief of staff and counselor to the Secretary and named Matthew Eames to succeed Bernhardt as acting director of congressional and legislative affairs.

"David Bernhardt has been a highly effective member of Interior's team, and he earned this promotion," said Norton. "Matt Eames' performance in the Office of Congressional Affairs has been outstanding, and we are pleased that he is stepping up to the plate to lead the Congressional team."

Bernhardt has served as the director of congressional and legislative affairs and counselor to the Secretary since 2001. Before joining Interior, Bernhardt was in private law practice and worked for Rep. Scott McInnis and the House Rules Committee. He is a native of Rifle, Colorado. He earned his B.A. degree in Political Science from the University of Northern Colorado in 1990, and a J.D. degree with honors from The George Washington University National Law Center in 1994.

Matthew Eames succeeds Bernhardt as director of congressional and legislative affairs. Eames joined the Department of Interior in April 2002 as chief of congressional and legislative affairs for the Bureau of Reclamation. In October 2003, he was named as deputy director of congressional and Legislative Affairs for the Department of the Interior.

Before joining the Department, beginning in 1991, Eames was senior legislative affairs representative for the Idaho Power Company, where he was responsible for federal congressional affairs. From 1987-1991, he served as vice president of the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry, a statewide business manufacturing association. From 1985-1987, he served as a legislative advisor to then-Congressman Larry Craig.

Eames is a 1983 graduate from Boise State University with a B.A. in Political Science. A native of Idaho, he and his wife Cathie and three children now reside in Virginia.