On May 21, 2003, Wilbert Bryant was appointed Counselor to the Secretary for the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). In this role, Bryant serves as the designated federal official advising the Secretary of Education on strengthening our nation's HBCUs and on advancing the opportunities for HBCUs to fully participate in federally supported programs. In addition, since December 5, 2001, Wilbert Bryant has served as Deputy Assistant Secretary For Higher Education Programs.

A native of Goulds, Florida, Deputy Assistant Secretary Bryant earned a Bachelors of Science in Mathematics from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and it was his years at this university that would instill in him a lifelong interest in education. Upon receipt of his undergraduate degree, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Army. Bryant went on to earn a Master of Education from Howard University and was honored with the opportunity to attend the Defense Department's highest-level military service school, The National War College. A Vietnam veteran, and highly decorated officer, Bryant served in the Regular Army nearly 28 years, retiring in 1990 after a distinguished career with the rank of Colonel.

After his retirement from the Army, Deputy Assistant Secretary Bryant served as the Vice President for Student Affairs at Virginia Union University. While at VUU, Bryant was a member of the President's cabinet and had supervisory responsibility for Student Activities, Residence Life, Administrative Hearing Officer, Student Health Services, Career Planning and Placement, Campus Ministry, Student Leadership Development and the Student Counseling Center.

In 1994, Governor George Allen appointed Bryant to be the Deputy Secretary of Education for the state of Virginia. In this position, Bryant assisted with numerous education initiatives including Virginia's Standards of Learning, which established rigorous academic standards for K-12 students in English, Mathematics, Science and History.

In 1998, Deputy Assistant Secretary Bryant was appointed to the position of Virginia Secretary of Education by Governor James S. Gilmore III. As a member of Governor Gilmore's cabinet, he had oversight of 37 educational and cultural related executive branch agencies of the Commonwealth, including the Virginia Department of Education, the State Council of Higher Education, the Virginia Community College System, 15 colleges and universities, vocational and technical training centers, five public museums, the Library of Virginia and two teaching Hospitals. In addition he had oversight of a biennial budget of more than 17 billion dollars. During his tenure as Virginia's Secretary of Education, Deputy Assistant Secretary Bryant served on numerous boards and commissions including: The Virginia Research and Technology Advisory Commission; Virginia Workforce Council; Virginia Advisory Council for Adult Education and Literacy (Ex-Officio); the Board of Directors, Education Leaders Council; Commission on Information Technology; Commission on Educational Infrastructure; Advisory Council of the Virginia Business Education Partnership; Governor's Blue Ribbon Commission on Higher Education; Governor's Commission on School Construction; Board of Trustees of the Jamestown Yorktown Foundation (Ex-Officio); Governor's Distance Learning Steering Committee; Virginia Environmental Education Advisory Committee; Virginia National Guard Diversity Advisory Committee; and he is a former member of the Board of Trustees, Florida A & M University.

Deputy Assistant Secretary Bryant has received numerous awards and commendations throughout his military career including the Legion of Merit and has been honored with an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Virginia State University in Petersburg, Virginia, Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Saint Paul's College, Lawrenceville, Virginia; he also has been honored with an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from Lincoln University, Jefferson City, Missouri, and Gannon University, Erie, Pennsylvania..

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