Karl H. Reichelt Named Acting GSA Chief of Staff

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. General Services Administrator Stephen A. Perry today announced Karl H. Reichelt as the agency’s acting Chief of Staff. Mr. Reichelt has served as GSA’s Regional Administrator for the Northeast & Caribbean Region since April 2002, a position he will retain through a transition period.

"Karl has done an outstanding job for the Bush Administration and GSA in meeting the needs of the federal agencies and the citizens of the Northeast & Caribbean Region. His demonstrated leadership abilities, management skills, and experience make him an ideal choice as our Chief of Staff and I look forward to working with Karl and GSA’s senior leadership team as we continue to make great strides in advancing President Bush’s Management Agenda and other Administration and agency goals,” Administrator Perry said.

Mr. Reichelt will succeed David H. Safavian, whom President Bush intends to nominate as the new Administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy within the Office of Management and Budget.

“I want to sincerely thank David Safavian for his strong leadership, valued counsel and significant contributions to our success at GSA during his tenure. All of us at GSA wish him continued success as he assumes this challenging position and new responsibilities in the Bush Administration,” Administrator Perry said.

As GSA’s Regional Administrator for New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, Mr. Reichelt is responsible for the delivery of critical operational and support services provided to federal agencies, including the management, construction and leasing of workspace, the procurement of information technology and telecommunications solutions, and the acquisition of furnishings, equipment, vehicles, office supplies and other services. Mr. Reichelt oversees several major capital projects, including the expansion of border stations along the US/Canadian border, the construction of new federal courthouses in Brooklyn and Buffalo, and the development of the new US Mission to the United Nations.

During his tenure with GSA, Mr. Reichelt has led a number of the Bush Administration’s key initiatives in New York, including the federal government’s role in redeveloping the World Trade Center site after the 9-11 terrorist attack, the transfer of Governor’s Island from the federal government to New York, and successfully putting back on track the historic and internationally significant African Burial Ground Project, highlighted by the long-awaited reinterment phase of the project completed in October 2003.

“I thank President Bush and Administrator Perry for the opportunity to serve as GSA’s Chief of Staff. I look forward to working on a national basis with GSA’s leadership team as we fulfill the President’s Management Agenda and as we continue our mission to deliver superior service and best value to our federal agency customers while being a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars,” Mr. Reichelt said.

Prior to joining the Bush Administration, Mr. Reichelt served in senior leadership positions within the Administration of New York Governor George E. Pataki, including a six-month special assignment as coordinator of human services programs provided to victims of the 9-11 attack. Mr. Reichelt is a graduate of the University at Albany and holds a B.A. in political science. He and his wife, Marianne, and their four children presently reside in Rhinebeck, NY, and will be moving to Washington, D.C., area in the near future.

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