The current assistant general counsel for management and operations, Paul Hutter, will provide leadership to the department’s Office of Policy and Planning ” the division where the security breach occurred ” while the Senate considers the nomination of Patrick W. Dunne as assistant secretary for policy and planning, Nicholson told the committee.
Hutter has replaced the acting assistant secretary for policy and planning, who has been placed on administrative leave, and the deputy assistant secretary for policy has resigned. The agency is moving to fire the employee involved.
Nicholson also named Richard M. Romley, a former Phoenix prosecutor as a special advisor for information security. He will evaluate the department’s information security procedures and processes and recommend improvements, and provide a “critical outsider’s perspective.”
