David R. Howell, Chief Human Capital Officer (Acting)
David R. Howell has served as Acting Chief Human Capital Officer since September 2007. Prior to this assignment, he was Deputy Chief of the Office of Policy and Strategy, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services since the agency was established in 2003. In this role, Mr. Howell managed the day-to-day operations of the office, which include conducting policy research and policy analyses, and making policy recommendations, on behalf of the overall USCIS mission. He also directed the strategy portfolio, including strategic planning, and a variety of strategic performance initiatives and organizational development activities.
Mr. Howell joined the Immigration and Naturalization Service in October 1995 as the first Associate Commissioner for Policy and Planning, the career deputy role in OPP, with responsibility for policy development, research and evaluation, statistics, strategic planning, performance measurement and annual planning, community relations, forms and regulations management, and web content management.
From February 1994 until October 1995, Mr. Howell was a Senior Policy Analyst and Associate Director of the US Commission on Immigration Reform. This nine-member Congressional Commission was mandated to examine and make recommendations on all aspects of US immigration policy. Mr. Howell provided policy leadership and managed the Commission staff’s policy development in the areas of immigrant integration, impact, and interaction with the economy, society and public programs, including employment verification and eligibility for public benefits. In addition, his responsibilities included developing and overseeing the Commission’s research activities, as well as the Commission’s periodic site visits.
Prior to 1994 Mr. Howell served in several positions in the Department of Health and Human Services, including Chief of the US Repatriate Program from 1991 to 1994. During this period he re-engineered the domestic portion of the federal emergency assistance programs for American citizens who are returned from overseas due to personal, natural or civil crisis. From 1987 to 1991 Mr. Howell was instrumental in the HHS response to the Immigration Reform and Control Act, initially as a key member of the departmental IRCA task force and subsequently as Deputy Director of the State Legalization Impact Assistance Grant program. SLIAG provided $4 billion in grant funds to reimburse States for costs associated with public assistance and public health assistance, and to conduct English and civics classes to enable legalization applicants to meet requirements for adjustment of status. Mr. Howell first joined HHS in 1979 as a Policy Analyst in the Office of Refugee Resettlement, where he developed policy options, drafted regulations, and designed and managed research and evaluation studies related to all aspects of refugee resettlement.
David Howell was selected in 1978 into the Congressional Fellowship Program, a one-year, professional level internship administered by the American Political Science Association.
During this period he worked as a staff member for Congressman Gillis Long (D-La) and Senator Charles Mathias, Jr (R-Md). For Mathias, Mr. Howell staffed the Refugee Act while it was before the Judiciary Committee.
Mr. Howell earned a PhD in Anthropology from the University of Virginia in 1978.