Office of the Executive Director (OED)

Jill Dobbins, Administrative Officer.

The Administration and Operations Staff is responsible for providing and coordinating the administrative, personnel, and management support services. Prepares special ad hoc studies, analyses and/or reports as required. Provides advisory and implementation support in the development of policy and procedures encompassing any of the OED’s program responsibilities.

Major areas of responsibility include:

1. Review the requirements for administrative resources such as personnel, equipment, supplies, and other support services.
2. Provide coordination of work activities which require separate input from multiple Divisions, such as the annual budget and procurement calls and establishment and realignment of the budget and reporting codes.
3. Coordinate all requests for personnel actions and personnel related matters such as performance standards, performance appraisals, awards, adverse actions, and time and attendance reporting. Assist staff in preparing necessary paperwork and ensure that paperwork is completed accurately and timely.
4. Develop and administer the Office’s human capital program.
5. Coordinate the budget preparation including planning, reviewing, and timely completion. Consolidate and prepare travel, training and administrative budgets.
6. Monitor all budget expenditures for administrative and program operations.
7. Prepare financial forecasts and accounting reports for management depicting information on allocations and expenditures.
8. Provide liaison support to money managers to facilitate the execution of budget, procurement and financial reporting activities.
9. Manage and coordinate the Management Controls Program to ensure that management controls are reviewed systematically, evaluated for weaknesses, and tested for adequacy, and coordinate necessary actions to strengthen control mechanisms. Conduct management control evaluations on the administrative operations.
10. Develop, coordinate and implement administrative policies and procedures to ensure a smooth and efficient administrative work flow.
11. Oversee the maintenance of an accurate and up-to-date inventory of accountable property assigned to office and contractor staff and monitor the data entry in the computerized inventory system.
12. Monitor position ceilings and staffing controls.
13. Oversee the efficient utilization of space and the development of space requirements. Such duties include the layout and design of offices, relocation of personnel, the installation of telephone equipment, the installation and location of computer equipment, and the coordination of changes with appropriate offices.
14. Conduct special studies, prepare internal reports and make recommendations to the Executive Director and other management officials.
15. Provide records and files management assistance.
16. Administer the Commission’s program for administrative delegations of authority.
17. Establish, manage, and coordinate Commission-wide policies, procedures, and standards for the directives system.

George Clapsis, Manager.

The Strategy and Risk Management Group (SRM) coordinates the strategic planning process and goals; measures and reports on performance against these goals. Advises the FERC on matters related to the overall management and control of financial resources. Makes recommendations for improvement regarding management control systems, operational performance and administrative processes. Provides internal auditing expertise in evaluating financial and management processes, systems, operations and programs. Performs audits and reviews, encompassing both compliance and performance effectiveness, to ensure the integrity and effectiveness of these systems and programs. Ensures that adequate internal controls are in place and are working to safeguard against waste, loss, or misappropriation.

Major areas of responsibilities are:

1. Coordinate the design of performance measurements, standards, baselines, and benchmarks for testing the Commission’s success in reaching its goals.
2. Gather data for performance measurement, analyze data, and compare it to baselines, benchmarks, and past performance.
3. Coordinate the production and dissemination of the strategic plan, annual performance plan, and annual performance report to Congress.
4. Comply with the requirements of the Government Performance and Results Modernization Act, including developing the Strategic Plan at least every four years, and the Performance Plan and Performance Accountability Report annually.
5. Provide guidance and assist offices in the development of their goals and performance measurements and tracking their performance.
6. Conduct operational reviews of all administrative and program functions as directed by the Executive Director and or Chairman.
7. Perform financial reviews to ensure the financial data and reporting is accurate and timely for management decision making; that it complies with Treasury, OMB, GAO, DOE, and Commission regulations and directives; and that it meets professional accounting and auditing principles and standards.
8. Support the FERC in identifying system/procedural deficiencies and make recommendations designed to ensure that programs/activities achieve desired results, accomplish stated objectives, and optimize the use of resources.
9. Determine whether financial and management systems and resources are being maintained in accordance with applicable statutes and regulations.
10. Serve as liaison with the DOE Inspector General and the GAO. Coordinate and track responses to the DOE Inspector General, GAO and Congressional subcommittees.
11. Provides internal auditing expertise and services to the Commission to ensure the accuracy and integrity of financial and performance information needed for decision making.
12. Administer the Federal Managers’ Financial Integrity Act (FMFIA) program.
13. Guarantee implementation/maintenance of A-123 program, Management’s Responsibility for Internal Control.
14. Coordinate and organizes the agency’s enterprise risk management efforts to address organizational challenges that effectively prioritize and manage risks to the mission.
15. Coordinate management strategies that align to the Commission’s risk awareness and transparency to help ensure risks are managed effectively, efficiently, and coherently.

Mission

The Human Resources Division manages and administers the Commission's Human Resources Program. In conjunction with all Commission Offices, develops, implements, evaluates, and maintains currency of the Commission’s Human Capital Plan. Provides services to managers and employees by: recruiting, hiring, developing, evaluating, and retaining employees; administering all aspects of the agency's human resources functions; building leadership capability; managing change; and ensuring the application of merit principles. Provides succession planning services. Maintains and safeguards all individual personnel records. Provides transactional processing into the automated system for all personnel actions related to hiring, classification, retirement and benefits. Conducts the orientation process for new employees.

Major areas of responsibilities are:

1. Provides succession planning services to include development of Human Capital Management strategies and workforce planning tools.
2. Manages and administers the Commission's executive resources program, specifically, political appointees and their staffs, Schedule C appointees, senior executives, senior-leader and senior-technical staff, experts and consultants, and Administrative Law Judges.
3. Conducts the orientation process for new political appointees and their staffs, Schedule C appointees, senior executives, senior-leader and senior-technical staff, experts and consultants, and Administrative Law Judges.
4. Provides services to managers and employees by recruiting, hiring, developing, evaluating, and retaining employees; administering all aspects of the agency's human resources functions; and ensuring the application of merit principles.
5. Maintains and safeguards personnel records.
6. Manage customer needs related to FERC's Human Resources Information systems by directing, monitoring, and coordinating customer related issues.

Kevin Tahvildary, Director.

Mission

The IT Operations Division is responsible for the day-to-day operations, monitoring, and maintenance of the Commission IT Infrastructure to ensure efficient and reliable IT systems and services that increase the Commission’s productivity. The Division implements effective automated strategies to support the Commission and provides oversight and management of all network infrastructure operations, telecommunications systems, and office automation hardware and software. The IT Operations Division also provides IT Customer Support and ensures that the Commission’s internal and external IT Training needs are met for the Commission’s information systems, resources and electronic filing system.

Functions

IT Customer Service Support Branch

• Oversee the IT Support Center
• Oversee Desktop Support
• Oversee IT Training, Development and the implementation, communication, marketing and training of IT initiatives
• Oversee hardware requests and acquisition, staging/imaging of all hardware (laptops, printers etc.) prior to issue to FERC employees, and storage of hardware artifacts
• Conduct business application support for all business applications
• Manage the copy equipment program
• Manage customer engagement forums
• Provide operational reports services

IT Network Infrastructure Services Support Branch

• Oversee the day to day operations of the network infrastructure (Wide Area Network (WAN)/Local Area Network (LAN)), Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), messaging, storage and backup and recovery services
• Oversee and administer all telecommunication contracts
• Oversee, purchase, install and implement software
• Administration of Smart Technology, Web and Video Teleconferencing

Michelle Pfeifer, Director.

Mission

The Solutions Delivery and Engineering Division is responsible for the design, development, and implementation of information applications and systems and oversight of the Data Collection Program. The Division provides the Commission with project management, policy compliance support, advice, and consultation on the development, implementation, and operation of office automation systems. The Solutions Delivery and Engineering Division also performs feasibility studies, requirements analyses, development support, oversight, and coordination for administrative and mission related applications systems as they relate to specific projects.

Functions

• Deliver design, development, test and deployment (as applicable) of information systems and applications
• Advise and consult with clients on the development, implementation and operation of office automation systems
• Perform feasibility studies, requirements analyses and implementation for administrative and mission related applications systems
• Provide architecture, planning, design and implementation of the Commission's core infrastructure (network, unified communication (including phones), servers/virtual servers, email, VPN and application hardware infrastructure)
• Oversee Quality Assurance, Testing and Evaluation of technologies to be deployed and deployment of custom applications
• Ensure that all infrastructure is designed to be highly available, scalable, recoverable and resilient
• Develop and deliver new reports
• Implement minor system enhancements known as system change request to legacy systems or applications

Amir Dastouri, Chief Information Security Officer.

Mission

The Cybersecurity and Information Assurance Division (CsIA) is responsible for the management and oversight of the Commission cybersecurity and systems assurance programs and the functions of the Chief Information Security Officer. CsIA develops and maintains the IT Security Framework for the Commission, which consists of the Security Architecture, Security Policies and Procedures, and the Security Strategic Plan. CsIA also promotes general IT security awareness and readiness to include training of users on all IT Security and Privacy issues, guidelines, and procedures implemented at the FERC. CsIA ensures Commission compliance with all IT standards and Federal mandates pertaining to security, including the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA), and OMB.

Functions

• Implement and oversee an enterprise security architecture and engineering which includes firewall logs, virus protection, access management, host security, encryption, intrusion protection, network monitoring and Virtual Private Network (VPN).
• Act as the CIO liaison on all audits including the yearly audit from the DOE Inspector General and A-123 audits.
• Oversee the Commission Incident Response Program and coordinate IT security incident response efforts with CIO and DOE, based on US-CERT guidelines.
• Manage the Configuration Change Control Board, utilizing the configuration policies to ensure stability in the IT infrastructure
• Implement and manage CIO Configuration Management policies, procedures and repositories, including management of all baselines
• Oversee and facilitate the functions of the Chief Information Security Officer to include: governance of IT security functions, mission, policies, OMB mandates and management of ethical hackers
• Ensure all mission-critical systems adequately implement security controls for confidentiality, integrity, and availability of all Commission data
• Ensure mission-critical systems security controls are reviewed, evaluated and approved for authority to operate in production
• Oversee and manage Independent Validation and Verification of IT initiatives and associated contractors
• Support the information security and operations requirements of the classified LAN support per Department of Energy requirements
• Participate in Enterprise Architecture management activities and the Technology Performance Management Program
• Ensure all mandated cybersecurity and privacy awareness training is conducted for all Commission employees
• Oversee the Commission's Privacy Program and compliance with Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) reporting on the Privacy Act.
• Serve as COTR for IT Security Support Contract and any other contracts for IT-related services as designated.
• Manage the CIO Knowledge Management repositories

Jolinda C. Murray, Director.

Mission

The IT Policy and Resources Management Division is responsible for ensuring that CIO and the Commission meet all OMB guidance related to Information Technology. The Division provides advisory and implementation support in the development of policy and procedures encompassing any of the CIO’s program responsibilities. The IT Policy and Resources Management Division also assists the CIO in the budget preparation including planning, reviewing, and timely completion, management of FERC’s CPIC program, and management of the Commission’s subscription service catalog. The Division is responsible for collecting and maintaining Commission-wide strategic and business IT plans and preparing special ad hoc studies, analyses and reports as required.

Functions

Planning and Policy Team

• Develop policy and procedures applicable to the CIO's program and populate and monitor the Mandates Dashboard to capture statutes, issues, OMB memorandum or other federal requirements that are applicable to FERC. Issue annual data call to the program offices for proposed IT investments.  These investments are reviewed and processed according to the approved CPIC Policy 
• Prepare CPIC requests for ITIRB review and approval.  Provide business case alternatives analysis as required.  Manage approved CPIC requests through to delivery
•  Manage communications between CIO, CFO, ASD and Program Offices for CPIC requests and ensure approved CPIC's are captured in the appropriate budget request
•  Manage business process management consultation or services
• Oversee activities of FERC's responses to CIO related OMB mandates, monitor for new issued mandates, determine if FERC is required to respond (508 vs FITARA), and work with respective task areas to draft and submit FERC's response
• Oversee activities and manage FERC's Enterprise Architecture, capture all applicable changes to FERC enterprise through the configuration management process, and perform quarterly audits to maintain integrity of the data
• Manage the Enterprise Architecture Working Group

Information Collections Management Team

• Oversee the Data Collection Program and ensures Compliance with OMB Guidelines. Provide information and resources to the Commission to ensure compliance with key statutory requirements (the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), and the Congressional Review Act (CRA)) and obtain approval from OMB regarding compliance with these statutory requirements.

Resources Management Team

• Manage the subscription service catalog and all subscriptions (renewals & new acquisitions) for the Commission
• Manage and execute the CIO budget to include the planning, reviewing, development and submission
• Maintain the budget forecast by quarter, processes all requisitions for IT products, services, and subscriptions and performs daily reconciliation of all transactions

Kirsten Dalboe, Chief Data Officer.

Data Strategy

Mission

The Data Governance Division (DGD) supports FERC through leadership, governance, policy setting, advisory services, and collaborative outreach to optimize enterprise data and information assets. The Division is responsible for ensuring data is available, reliable, consistent, accessible, secure, and timely to support the mission and activities of the Commission and performing the functions of the Chief Data Officer. The DGD coordinates the collection, collation, and analysis of data, conducts data cleaning, validation and visualization, and operates appropriate systems for managing data storage on behalf of the Commission. The DGD also creates an environment that makes data and information accessible to the Commission and creates synergies between all Program Offices by improving data quality, management, presentation and the search experience. The Data Governance Division ensures data accuracy and data security, enables data sharing, and works with the CIO to develop data quality measures and practices to improve how the agency collects, uses, manages, and publishes data.

Functions

• Collaborate on internal and external data strategy efforts to ensure data is available, reliable, consistent, accessible, and timely to support the mission and activities of the Commission.
• Facilitate better use of data and data-driven decision-making following a data governance model
• Develop overall data strategy, standardized data models, and the data management roadmap
• Lead the Commission’s efforts to track data collections, data purchases, databases, physical data models, and linkages between datasets
• Work with CIO to develop data management policies and practices and decide on products and services and technical architectures that support data in the Commission
• Determine data the Commission will capture, retain and exploit and for what purposes
• Analyze data to predict trends and improve data quality
• Ensure adherence to data standards and speeding data linkages between systems
• Keep executives informed on the Commissions’ data strategy, policies and procedures
• Oversee teams focused on analysis, data strategy, data governance and data architecture
• Oversee bulk data products, API development, metadata standards, and compatibility with emerging web data standards
• Manage open government data effort
• Develop and implement data privacy policies to ensure data is stored reliably and securely
• Collaborate with Program Offices to use data to increase operational efficiency or predict trends
• Oversee the budget and mechanism for managing the data procurement and licensing

Kimberly Lewis, Director.

The Acquisition Services Division plans, solicits, negotiates and administers contracts, and performs all operational management responsibilities for procurement and contract management in support of programmatic and institutional requirements. In addition the Division is responsible for:

1. Providing advice and assistance regarding such matters.
2. Responsible for working with program and project managers on procurement planning and development of contracts.
3. Working closely with programs to ensure proper accomplishment of Contracting Officer's Representative's (COR) role in all aspects of the acquisition cycle.
4. Responsible for ensuring proper procurement strategies, solicitations, negotiations and contract awarding, administration and closeout.

Stacie L. Davis, Director.

The Budget Division formulates the Commission's funding and resource requirements for inclusion in budget requests to OMB and the Congress. In addition the Division is responsible for:

1. Reviewing, analyzing, and consolidating Offices needs and preparing necessary justifications, exhibits and supporting documentation for budget request.
2. Briefing Commission management and/or providing status reports on resource levels requested and expended.
3. Providing liaison on budget matters to OMB, Congress, DOE, the Congressional Budget Office, the GAO and other Federal agencies.
4. Performing all budget execution, planning and evaluation activities for the Commission.
5. Monitoring and analyzing the Commission's use of human resources.

Geoffrey Gilliar, Director.

The Financial Information Technology and Travel (FITT) Division serves the Commission by providing high quality services and innovative solutions that enable FERC’s financial and travel communities to successfully achieve business requirements, regulatory compliance, and strategic operational objectives.

The FITT division is divided into two organizations, each tasked with distinct and independent responsibilities. The first organization is responsible for administering technology and providing services that support FERC’s financial business processes and strategic goals. At a high level the FITT financial team's responsibilities include:

• Ensuring FERC’s Financial and Acquisition applications are fully operational so that every office within the Commission can properly procure and account for products and services that are necessary for FERC to achieve its strategic mission
• Executing security administration requests that grant individuals access to, and privileges within, FERC's financial and acquisition systems
• Providing high quality functional and technical application support to financial resources located throughout the Commission
• Designing, developing, and disseminating insightful reports that assist financial decisions/planning
• Administering FERC's annual charges system that: generates industry invoices; disseminates bills; creates/recognizes accounts receivable balances; calculates/assesses overdue charges; and processes/applies industry payments
• Crafting and delivering training presentations and supplementary training materials that educate and enable FERC employees to perform their financial job functions
• Administering an array of interfaces that automatically exchange, interpret and process information from external financial applications
• Complying with all applicable laws/regulations governing cloud-hosted applications
• Ensuring the safe storage and security of Personally Identifiable Information and other sensitive financial/acquisition data
• Providing Disaster Recovery solutions and supporting FERC's financial 'Continuity of Operations' strategic goals
• Generating, reviewing and archiving security and configuration management audit artifacts

The second organization supports travel at the Commission by interpreting the General Services Administration’s Federal Travel Regulation into effective FERC policies and procedures. By formulating and communicating clear guidance, the FITT travel team ensures that official business travel is conducted in a responsible manner with an emphasis on minimizing FERC's administrative costs. Specifically, the FITT travel team is responsible for:

• Defining, maintaining and enforcing FERC's Travel Policy
• Submitting all federally mandated reports to General Services Administration
• Configuring, managing and granting access to FERC’s travel application
• Providing high quality functional and technical application support related to FERC's travel system
• Crafting and delivering training presentations and supplementary training materials that educate and enable FERC travelers
• Partnering with applicable stakeholders to research, resolve and respond to all travel-related questions, issues and/or concerns
• Administering FERC's Travel Card program
• Receiving and facilitating Passport/Visa applications associated with international travel
• Processing reimbursements associated with local travel expenditures
• Auditing a subset of FERC’s travel transactions and responding to all travel-related audit inquires

Norman Richardson, Director.

The Financial Management Division maintains activities and services which ensure the integrity of the Commission’s mandated financial reports and the reliability of financial data required to support mission accomplishment. Additionally, it provides services which safeguard Commission assets against fraud, waste and abuse and supports the agency’s travel program. In addition the Division is responsible for:

1. Authorizes disbursements for invoices, intragovernmental transfers of funds and related transactions.
2. Controls and obtains approvals as necessary on invoices and vouchers. Administers the Commission’s property management and inventory control programs.
3. Prepares relevant financial reports as required by CFO/FERC, DOE, OMB, Treasury and GAO.
4. Collects and deposits all funds due to the Commission including filing fees and annual charges.
5. Develops policy and implements all aspects of the FERC's program of establishing and assessing filing fees and annual charges.
6. Provides accounting policy and financial reporting expertise to ensure the accuracy and integrity of financial and performance information needed for decision making.
7. Develops and implements appropriate CFO policies and procedures to ensure revenue and expenditure transactions applicable to the Commission's operations are properly recorded and accounted for to permit the preparation of reliable financial reports.
8. Advises the FERC on matters related to the overall management and control of financial resources.
9. Analyzes obligations and costs for compliance with applicable laws.
10. Formulates FERC’s internal financial policy.