Washington, DC—Department of Human Services (DHS) Interim Director Brian Wilbon announced today that he has appointed DHS Management Analyst, George L. Shepard, as Acting Administrator of the DHS Family Services Administration (FSA) formerly headed by Ricardo Lyles. Lyles, who retired from DHS last week, had provided 28 years of service to the District government in several key positions at DHS. Mr. Shepard has been involved in research on homelessness in the District and has served as a staff member of the Inter-agency Council on Homelessness established under the Homeless Services Reform Act of 2005.

“I sincerely thank Ricardo Lyles for his dedication to sheltering the homeless in our city and to serving poor and low-income District residents in general,” said DHS Interim Director Brian Wilbon. “At the same time, I am also pleased to have someone like George Shepard take the helm at the Family Services Administration. Mr. Shepard has a good background in human services and has strong administrative, management, and policymaking skills.

During his tenure as Administrator of FSA, Ricardo Lyles focused extensively on services for homeless individuals and families. He was instrumental in the development of the District’s Housing Assistance Center on New York Avenue NE, the Valley Place Transitional Family Shelter in SE, and the conversion of Emery Shelter into Single Room Occupancy units for working homeless men. Lyles implemented the Homeless Services Reform Act and oversaw successful implementation the District’s annual Winter Plan for sheltering the homeless.

George L. Shepard has been a management analyst at DHS since 2003 and involved in the District’s efforts to shelter and provide services for the homeless. Mr. Shepard has conducted research and data synthesis and analysis to support decision-making on homelessness issues and developed rules and other policies for shelters. Prior to working at DHS, Mr. Shepard was a researcher, project manager, and accreditation coordinator at the Baltimore City Department of Social Services. He has also held other significant positions in the Office of the Mayor for the City of Baltimore, with Locke Insulators, National Capital Industries, Childs Corporation, and Siebe North. 

Shepard holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Baltimore, a Master of Science in Public Relations from American University, and a Bachelor of Science in Business and Management, cum laude, from the University of Maryland, College Park. Shepard is also a PhD candidate at the University of Maryland Graduate School of Business and has been a Professor of Management, Adjunct Faculty, Merrick School of Business, University of Baltimore, since 1990.