More Personnel Changes

The information below was posted on the CONNECT board. It appears to be an e-mail sent to Social Security personnel. I am unable to evaluate what this might mean on a policy basis. I can say that it is a major promotion for Andrew Biggs, whose nomination to become Deputy Commissioner at Social Security was recently rejected by the Senate. Biggs is a huge proponent of Social Security privatization. There has been no previous sign that Biggs has any real interest in the day to day policy issues faced by Social Security, particularly in the area of Social Security's disability programs. The information about Jim Winn leaving the Disability Review Board (DRB) to return to his old job suggests that the DRB may not be around much longer.

The following Senior Executive Service assignments are effective immediately:

In the Office of the Commissioner, Office of Executive Operations, David A. Rust will be appointed as the Executive Secretary. David previously served as the Agency’s Associate Commissioner for Disability and has been with the Department of Agriculture since he left SSA in 1989.

In the Office of Policy, Andrew Biggs will be appointed as the Deputy Commissioner for Policy. In addition to his new assignment and to ensure continuity within the organization, Dr. Biggs will continue in his former capacity as the Acting Associate Commissioner for Retirement Policy until I name a replacement. Larry Love will resume his full-time responsibilities as Counselor to the Commissioner.

Manny Vaz, Regional Commissioner in Boston, will replace Martin Gerry as Deputy Commissioner for Disability and Income Security Programs on an Acting basis for the next several months. During this interim period, Susan Harding will serve as the Acting Regional Commissioner in Boston.

Jim Winn, Associate General Counsel for Program Law, who most recently has been serving as the Acting Executive Director for the Disability Review Board, will return to his position in the Office of the General Counsel.