Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke will hold a media availability today to announce his decisions on the report by Special Master Charles W. Swartwood III. NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco will join the secretary for the announcement to provide details about how NOAA will put in place these decisions.
WHAT: Phone press availability
WHO: Gary Locke, Secretary of Commerce, Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., under secretary for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator
WHEN: Tuesday, May 17, 1:45 – 2:15 p.m. EDT
CALL-IN INFO: Please contact Scott Smullen or Jennifer Austin at 202-482-6090 for call-in information.
BACKGROUND: On Sept. 23, 2010, Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke appointed the Honorable Charles B. Swartwood III, a retired judge and former Chief Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts, and current chairman of the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission, to serve as special master to review enforcement cases that the Commerce Department’s Inspector General identified as problematic, some dating as far back as the early 2000s. NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco requested the IG review of law enforcement in 2009. Dr. Lubchenco has made reforming the law enforcement program to ensure a fair, effective and transparent program a top priority.
A press release, Secretary Locke’s decision memo, and the Special Master report will be posted later today at www.noaa.gov