(Washington, DC) The District of Columbia Office of Personnel (DCOP) welcomes the start of its new Director, Brender L. Gregory, as appointed by Mayor Adrian M. Fenty.

Ms. Gregory is a seasoned public management and finance professional with 23 years of experience as a District of Columbia Government employee. Before assuming her most recent position as Special Assistant to the General Manager and Acting Assistant General Manager of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Ms. Gregory served as Chief of Staff for the DC Department of Transportation from 2004 to 2006.

"I am excited about the opportunity not only to return to District Government but to help improve such an important agency," Gregory said. "DCOP is an integral component of District government that touches the lives and careers of every District employee. I know there is significant progress to be made and I look forward to continuing to move the agency forward.”

Ms. Gregory began her career with the District of Columbia Government in January 1984 as a Project Manager in the Office of the City Administrator. She later became an Operations Research Analyst, Human Resource Development Manager, and Supervisory Employee Benefits Specialist with the DC Office of Personnel. She was instrumental in establishing the first Health Benefits Unit and Employee Wellness Program. She also designed and implemented an automated Health Benefit Reconciliation Program which saved hundreds of thousands of dollars in duplicate and uncollected benefits payments.

From 1998-2004, Ms. Gregory, held several executive and senior management positions with the Metropolitan Police Department including Director of the Business Services Division and Deputy Chief Financial Officer.

A native of Houston, Texas, Ms. Gregory holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Hampton University and is a master's degree candidate (May 2007) at Central Michigan University. She is also a candidate for the Society of Human Resource Professionals (SPHR) designation. She is a Certified Employee Pension Program Administrator, Industrial Engineer, Trainer, and Grants Administrator.