Office of the Secretary

For Release: November 10, 1997

Contact: John Wright 202/208-6416

M. John Berry was sworn in as Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Policy, Management and Budget today. He was nominated by President Clinton on September 19. His nomination was unanimously approved by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on October 22, and was confirmed by the full Senate on October 28.

“John Berry brings a wealth of knowledge and a unique blend of federal and state fiscal experience that will be a tremendous asset to my staff and the Department,” said Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt. “I am pleased that he has agreed to fill this challenging and very important post.”

As Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Policy, Management and Budget, Berry will be responsible for providing policy guidance and administrative responsibility, along with fiscal oversight for overall management of the Department, as well as departmental divisions of personnel, policy and budget.

Since 1995, Berry served as Director of Government Relations and Senior Policy Advisor for the Smithsonian Institution. Prior to that, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary, for Enforcement (1994-95) at the Department of Treasury. From 1985 to 1994, he served as Legislative Director and Associate Staff to the House Appropriations Committee for Representative Steny H. Hoyer. Before that he served as Maryland Senate Finance Committee Staff Director for the Maryland General Assembly, Department of Fiscal Services (1984-85).

Along with his professional career, Berry coordinated development of restoration programs for the Chesapeake Bay; Potomac, Anacostia and Patuxent Rivers and funding protection for the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin.

Berry, 38, is a member of the Board of Directors, Accokeek Foundation, Prince George’s County, MD, and is a member of numerous volunteer organizations, such as Food and Friends, and Leadership Washington.

A native of Rockville, Maryland, Berry earned a master’s degree in Public Administration from Syracuse University in 1981, from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs as a Herbert H. Lehman Fellow. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland, graduating Summa Cum Laude in 1980.

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