U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige announced that Kent D. Talbert will serve as deputy general counsel for departmental and legislative service in the Office of the General Counsel.

As deputy general counsel, Talbert will assist the department's general counsel and provide recommendations and guidance on various legal matters affecting departmental programs and activities.

Prior to joining the Education Department, Talbert served as education policy counsel for the Committee on Education and the Workforce in the U.S. House of Representatives. In that capacity, Talbert provided legal advice for committee reports and legislation, and direction on elementary and secondary education policy.

Talbert previously served as a staff member for the committee and was primarily responsible for the policy development of the Education Flexibility Partnership Act in 1999. In addition, Talbert has worked as a legislative assistant to Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., and staff member to the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.

A native of Greenwood, S.C., Talbert earned his undergraduate degree from Erskine College and a juris doctor degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law.