FCC Chairman Announces Staff Changes

Media Contact:

Will Wiquist, (202) 418-0509

will.wiquist@fcc.gov

For Immediate Release

FCC CHAIRMAN TOM WHEELER ANNOUNCES STAFF CHANGES

--

WASHINGTON, October 13, 2015 - FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler today announced the

appointments of Jessica Almond and Edward Smitty Smith as legal advisors, and the departure

of legal advisors Maria Kirby and Renee Gregory. As of October 26, 2015, Ms. Almond will

serve as legal advisor for media, enforcement, and public safety issues, and Mr. Smith will be

legal advisor for wireless telecommunications, engineering and technology, and consumer issues,

as well as the broadcast incentive auction.

Jessica has done a tremendous job filling in for Renee Gregory, shepherding a large number of

incentive auction-related proceedings. I am delighted that she will be staying on and expanding

her portfolio to media, enforcement, and public safety issues, said Chairman Wheeler. Smitty

was a key member of the Incentive Auction team before he left to run for Attorney General of the

District of Columbia. It is terrific that he is rejoining the Commission and continuing his

incentive auction work as well as taking on a broader range of wireless issues.

Maria Kirby joined the Commission in 2012 as a legal advisor in the Wireless

Telecommunications Bureau and was appointed to Chairman Wheeler's staff upon his arrival.

We will miss Maria greatly, he continued. Maria's superior judgment and insights on media

and consumer issues have made her an invaluable asset. She will no doubt succeed in her next

endeavor as she has at the Commission.

Renee Gregory, who has been on maternity leave since July, is leaving the Commission for a new

position, which will be announced later this year. Ms. Gregory served as wireless legal advisor to

Chairman Wheeler and to Chairman Julius Genachowski, and also was chief of staff in the Office

of Engineering and Technology.

We already miss Renee, said Chairman Wheeler. Renee is the total package - smart,

knowledgeable, astute, and an all-around pleasure to work with.

Prior to rejoining the Commission, Ms. Almond worked as government affairs counsel at HTC

America, Inc. Before that, she served as chief of staff in the FCC's Wireless

Telecommunications Bureau, special counsel in the office of Chairman Genachowski, and legal

advisor in the FCC's Media Bureau. She earned her law degree from George Washington

University Law School and her bachelor's from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Prior to his return to the FCC, Mr. Smith served as director of the District of Columbia Office of

Victim Services and Justice Grants. Mr. Smith has also served as senior counsel and chief of

staff for the FCC's Incentive Auction Task Force, special counsel in the FCC's Enforcement

Bureau, special advisor at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and

candidate for District of Columbia Attorney General. He earned his law degree from Harvard

Law School and his bachelor's from Brown University.

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Office of Media Relations: (202) 418-0500

TTY: (888) 835-5322

Twitter: @FCC

www.fcc.gov/office-media-relations

This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order

constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).

LINK:	http://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-chairman-announces-staff-changes...
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