FERC Chairman James Hoecker last week announced the start-up ofthree new offices that were recently created as a result ofCommission’s on-going restructuring effort.

The new offices include: Office of Strategy and OrganizationalManagement, headed by Acting Director Charles S. Whitmore; Officeof Finance, Accounting and Operations, headed by Director Thomas R.Herlihy; and the FERC First! Project Office, with Christie McGue asdirector and reengineering advisor to Hoecker. The first twooffices contain elements of what was formerly the Office of theExecutive Director and Chief Financial Officer as well as otherfunctions.

Specifically, the strategy office will conduct strategicplanning performance assessment, will be responsible for humanresources and leadership development, and will carry out theimplementation of new initiatives and future management review andplanning. The functions of the finance office will encompass budgetfunding, internal and external accounting policy, financial audits,internal controls, procurements and the operation of facilities.The third office will oversee the phase-in of all FERC First!initiatives and restructuring and ultimately will be disbanded whenthe process is completed.

“I don’t know if they [the new offices] are flying at 100% yet,”said Hedley Burrell, a spokesman for the Commission.

Hoecker also has appointed Administrative Law Judge William J.Cowan, who joined FERC in 1997, to serve as Deputy Chief Judgeunder Chief Administrative Law Judge Curtis L. Wagner Jr. Amongother things, Cowan will serve as the head of the Office ofAdministrative Law Judges in the absence of Wagner.

Susan Parker

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