Pouland Named Head of GSA's Greater Southwest Region

GSA #9409

April 23, 1997
Contact: Hap Connors
(202) 501-1231

WASHINGTON, D.C.--John Pouland, a native Texan and former state government official, has been appointed as regional administrator for the U.S. General Services Administration's five-state Greater Southwest Region with headquarters in Fort Worth.

The announcement was made today by acting GSA Administrator David J. Barram. "During his previous service with GSA, John Pouland contributed to changing GSA into a more streamlined and responsive agency," Barram said. "I look forward to working with him so that we can continue the Clinton-Gore Administration's efforts to reinvent government to better serve the American people."

Pouland served as GSA's Southwest regional administrator from 1995 to 1996. He resigned last year to run as the Democratic challenger in the Fifth Congressional District of Texas against Republican Pete Sessions, who was elected to his first term.

As GSA's regional administrator, Pouland will direct a GSA workforce of about 1,400 people in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, and oversee an annual budget of $394 million. The region provides total office environments for over 90,000 federal employees. In addition, the region provides some internal program support for GSA's Heartland and Rocky Mountain regions.

Prior to his service in the Clinton Administration, Pouland was executive director of the Texas state General Services Commission (GSC) in Austin, where he oversaw a range of activities in support of state government similar to those performed by GSA, including purchasing, real estate management and development, and telecommunications services.

Pouland was an attorney in private practice in Dallas from 1980 to 1992. Between 1973 and 1980, Pouland worked in the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate as a legislative assistant and administrative assistant.

As the government's central business manager, GSA provides integrated services to establish quality work environments for federal employees. The agency constructs and manages federal buildings, leases office workspace, procures and distributes supplies, oversees reuse and disposal of surplus property, and provides computer, telecommunications, and travel and transportation services to federal agencies. The Greater Southwest Region houses about 90,000 government employees in 942 GSA-owned and leased buildings.

Pouland holds a Bachelor's degree in government from the University of Texas at Austin, and a law degree from Bates College of Law at the University of Houston.