The Honorable Alphonso Jackson Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development

Alphonso Jackson was the Nation's 13th Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed Jackson on March 31, 2004.

In nominating Jackson, President George W. Bush chose a leader with a strong background in housing and community development, expertise in finance and management, and a deep commitment to improving the lives of all Americans.

Alphonso Jackson first joined the Bush Administration in June of 2001 as HUD's Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer. As Deputy Secretary, Jackson managed the day-to-day operations of the $32 billion agency and instilled a new commitment to ethics and accountability within HUD's programs and among its workforce and grant partners.

Immediately preceding his appointment at HUD, Jackson served as President of American Electric Power-TEXAS, a $13 billion utility company located in Austin, Texas.

From January 1989 until July 1996, Secretary Jackson was President and CEO of the Housing Authority of the City of Dallas, Texas, which consistently ranked as one of the best-managed large-city housing agencies in the country during his tenure. Prior to that, Secretary Jackson was Director of the Department of Public and Assisted Housing in Washington, D.C., and also served as Chairperson for the District of Columbia Redevelopment Land Agency Board.

In 1977, Jackson became the Director of Public Safety for the City of St. Louis. Jackson also served as executive director for the St. Louis Housing Authority, a director of consultant services for the certified public accounting firm of Laventhol and Horwath-St. Louis, and special assistant to the chancellor and assistant professor at the University of Missouri.

Secretary Jackson holds a bachelor's degree in political science and a master's degree in education administration from Truman State University. He received his law degree from Washington University School of Law.

An expert on public housing and urban issues, Jackson has been asked to serve on a number of national and state commissions, most notably the General Services Commission of the State of Texas, where he served as Chairman; the National Commission on America's Urban Families, and the National Commission on Severely Distressed Public Housing. Secretary Jackson has also lent his expertise to numerous nonprofit and corporate boards.

Secretary Jackson and his wife Marcia are the parents of two grown daughters.