Chief of Staff to the President Seth Grossman sent the following message today:

Dear Colleagues,

I am writing to update you on some personnel changes in the Office of Government Relations.

Senior Vice President for Government Relations Nelson Peacock has accepted a new position as the President and CEO of the Northwest Arkansas Council. The Northwest Arkansas Council is a non-profit that works with Northwest Arkansas regional leaders, elected officials, and companies such as Wal-Mart, Tyson Foods, J.B. Hunt, and others to increase quality of life for local residents, enhance economic development, promote diversity and inclusiveness, and work with local, Federal and State officials to secure infrastructure investment. Following a nationwide search, Nelson was selected to lead the Council. This new role will not only allow Nelson to continue his work in public service, but it will also offer the ability for him to return to his home state to be closer to family. Nelson will be transitioning from the University in July, and we wish him all the best in his new endeavors. Upon Nelson’s departure, Bob Hartnagel will oversee government relations activities at UCOP. Bob recently joined the University of California after a long tenure with the California Legislature. We look forward to his continued leadership in the Office of Government Relations.

In addition to Nelson’s departure, Gary Falle, Associate Vice President and Director of Federal Government Relations (FGR), will transition to working exclusively with UC’s Office of National Laboratories (UCNL) as the university plans for its participation in an anticipated contract proposal for the management and operation of the Los Alamos National Laboratory. While Gary will be greatly missed at FGR, we are pleased that he will remain a part of UC and will apply his years of experience with the University, the laboratories, and the U.S. Department of Energy to this important new position. Gary joined UC in September 2005 as senior director for energy, national security and laboratories affairs. He was appointed by the UC Board of Regents as associate vice president for federal governmental relations in March 2009.

The University is fortunate that Chris Harrington has agreed to accept the position of Interim Associate Vice President and Director for Federal Government Relations. Chris currently serves as Associate Director of FGR and is well known to UCOP and to all of the UC community. Chris has nearly 16 years of federal governmental relations and public affairs experience with the University and more than two decades of experience at the federal level having worked on Capitol Hill and in the federal government. As many of you know, Chris has been involved in all aspects of the University’s federal advocacy agenda, including engagement on our governmental relations, public affairs, and strategic communications strategies. Chris’s experience and deep knowledge of FGR, the Office of the President, the campuses and the national laboratories will provide for a seamless transition.

Gary will begin his transition to his new responsibilities in the coming days, and Chris will begin as Interim AVP on June 26th.

Please join us in sending Nelson, Gary, Chris, and Bob our best wishes in their new endeavors.

All the best,
Seth

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