Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs
Lisette M. Mondello was nominated by President George W. Bush to serve as Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) September 6, 2005, and confirmed by the United States Senate on November 3, 2005. As Assistant Secretary, Ms. Mondello represents and advises the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on matters relating to media and public affairs. She directs departmental communications and oversees programs relating to intergovernmental relations, homeless veterans, consumer affairs, and the Department’s four national rehabilitative special event programs. In addition, Ms. Mondello was nominated by President Bush to the Board of Trustees for the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. Prior to her nomination, Ms. Mondello served as Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Education where she helped develop a long term communications plan and strategic policy for the implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act. Before joining the Administration, Ms. Mondello was Director of Communications for Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and Alfonse M. D’Amato (R-NY). In both positions, Ms. Mondello oversaw the senators’ press activities and served as their media spokesperson while advising them on policy and public relations. Ms. Mondello was also Senior Vice President of Dallas-based Spaeth Communications, Inc., from 1989 to 1994. She conducted media training, public speaking seminars, and developed corporate and crisis communication strategies for clients. She also was Campaign Manager for Rep. Sam Johnson (R-TX) during the 1991 special election in which he first won his congressional seat. In 1983, Ms. Mondello joined the Texas Foundation for Conservative Studies (TFCS), a public policy research institute. She began as Director of Public Relations before becoming Executive Director of TFCS and Associated Texans Against Crime (ATAC), an initiative to implement statewide criminal justice reform. Ms. Mondello began her professional career as Press Secretary to Rep. Jim Collins (R-TX). She also served as the Congressman’s primary media spokesperson during his 1982 campaign for Senate. Ms. Mondello is a graduate of Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. April 2007
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