Secretary Norton Names Tom Weimer Acting Assistant Secretary for Water and Science

WASHINGTON - Interior Secretary Gale Norton today named Tom Weimer as acting assistant secretary for Water and Science.

Weimer, who takes over from Assistant Secretary Bennett Raley, has been serving as principal deputy assistant secretary for Water and Science for the past three and a half years. Raley's resignation becomes effective Dec. 3, 2004. Weimer, who has 18 years of federal service, previously served at Interior as chief of staff to Secretary Manuel Lujan Jr.

"Tom has a wealth of experience, and I am confident in his ability to take on this position," Norton said. "Tom has been with us since July 2001, and I have come to rely on his judgment and his scientific expertise in a broad range of issues."

Weimer worked on the professional staff of the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs and served as a subcommittee staff director on the House Committee on Science. Before assuming his current position, he was legislative director for National Laboratory Affairs at the University of California.

He has also directed the Program Office at the National Academy of Engineering in Washington, D.C., and has worked as a technical staff member at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, N.M., and at the Lockheed Missiles and Space Company in Sunnyvale, Calif.

Weimer received bachelor's and master's degrees in systems engineering from Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, Calif., and master of electrical engineering degree from the University of Washington, Seattle. He is a registered professional engineer. Weimer begins serving as acting assistant secretary when Assistant Secretary Bennett Raley's resignation takes effect on Dec. 3, 2004.