WASHINGTON, March 28 /PRNewswire/ -- HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt today formally named six people to his senior staff, including a Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff and four counselors. The appointments are the first in a series of appointments that will comprise Secretary Leavitt's senior team at the Department.

"I've selected a very seasoned and competent team of professionals to help guide the work of the Department," Secretary Leavitt said. "Each offers valuable experience, subject-matter expertise and a proven track record of performance that will help me fulfill the President's aspirations for the Department."

Rich McKeown will serve as Chief of Staff. Mr. McKeown will oversee operations for all Department functions. He has previously served as Chief of Staff to Secretary Leavitt at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Utah Governor's Office. He has also served as a Commissioner of the Utah State Tax Commission and practiced law in Salt Lake City. Mr. McKeown brings proven management and policy experience, outstanding personal skills and sound judgment to the Department.

Kerry Weems will serve as Deputy Chief of Staff and assist the Chief of Staff with the management of day-to-day operational functions, as well as serve as a policy advisor. Mr. Weems is a 21-year veteran of the Department, who has most recently served as Acting Assistant Secretary for Budget, Technology and Finance since January 2003. He began his career as a budget and program analyst for the Social Security Administration (then part of HHS) and has served in numerous capacities since then. Mr. Weems' detailed understanding of the budget, management issues, policies and institutional history add significant depth to the senior team.

Jennifer Young will serve as Acting Senior Counselor for Health Policy, a new role within the Department that will function as senior policy advisor to the Secretary for the health portfolio. Ms. Young will advise the Secretary on Medicaid, Medicare, public health and other health care matters, as well as legislative strategy. Prior to this appointment, Ms. Young was appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate to serve as the Assistant Secretary for Legislation, the principal legislative liaison for the Bush Administration on health and human service legislation. She will continue in this role until a replacement is named. Ms. Young plays a lead role in the implementation of the Medicare Modernization Act at HHS. Throughout her career, she has held numerous health policy positions, including staff work for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. Senate Committee on Finance and the National Governors Association.

William F. Raub will serve as Acting Counselor for Science Policy. In this role, he will function as senior policy advisor for science and oversee a portfolio of issues that include activities, among others, at the Food and Drug Administration, National Institutes of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Raub also will serve as a key advisor to the Secretary on counterterrorism. His experience includes multiple roles at HHS, including serving as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Health Emergency Preparedness and earlier as Acting Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. Dr. Raub also served previously as Deputy Director of the National Institutes of Health, the Science Advisor to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and Special Assistant for Health Affairs in the Office of Science and Technology Policy at the White House. He brings a rich and distinguished background to Secretary Leavitt's senior team.

Richard M. Campanelli will serve as Acting Counselor for Human Service Policy. In this role, he will function as senior policy advisor to the Secretary on issues relating to children and families, seniors, people with disabilities, life issues, civil rights, privacy, faith and community-based activities and other human service matters. Mr. Campanelli will continue in his capacity as Director of the Office for Civil Rights. Prior to this, Mr. Campanelli spent nearly 20 years in public and private work, including service in private law practice, as Senior Special Assistant to the U.S. Attorney General, as Legal Counsel to the U.S. Department of State South Africa Working Group and as a Trial Attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. He brings considerable public- and private-sector experience in civil rights, public policy and government regulation to Secretary Leavitt's senior team.

Natalie Gochnour will serve as Counselor to the Secretary. An economist by training, Ms. Gochnour will advise the Secretary on communication and policy matters. She has worked in numerous roles with Secretary Leavitt since 1993. Most recently, she served as Associate Administrator for Public Affairs at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Her previous public service included serving as Director of Policy and Communications for the Utah Governor's Office, Utah State Planning Coordinator and Deputy Director of the Utah Governor's Office of Planning and Budget. She brings a multi-faceted background of public policy depth and communications experience to Secretary Leavitt's senior team.

In addition to these new appointments, Laura Lawlor, Deputy Chief of Staff, who served in the same capacity under Secretary Thompson, is taking maternity leave and will rejoin the senior team upon her return in May. Ms. Lawlor previously served President Bush in various capacities, both in the White House and when he was Governor of Texas. In the White House, she served as Special Assistant to the President and Director of Cabinet Affairs. In the Texas Governor's Office, she served as his Health Policy Advisor and Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs. Ms. Lawlor brings years of experience working on health and human service policy and governmental affairs at the state and federal level.

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