Appointment of Diane E. Thompson as associate commissioner for legislative affairs at FDA

NEWS 02/02/1994 Appointment of Diane E. Thompson as associate commissioner for legislative affairs at FDA
P94-5                             Food and Drug Administration
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE             Arthur Whitmore (301) 443-4177
Feb. 2, 1994                               

     Commissioner of Food and Drugs David A. Kessler, M.D., today
announced the appointment of Diane E. Thompson, former chief of
staff for Sen. Barbara Mikulski, as associate commissioner for
legislative affairs at FDA.
     From January 1991 until joining the Food and Drug
Administration, Thompson was a partner in the consulting firm of
Foreman & Heidepriem in Washington, D.C., where she specialized in
legislative, public policy and political consulting for a variety
of corporate, non-profit and political clients.    
     Thompson served as Mikulski's chief of staff from January 1987
to November 1989, and during 1986 while Mikulski was a member of
the House of Representatives.
     "Diane's proven record in managing public policy issues will
be a valuable asset in her role as FDA's new legislative affairs
chief," Kessler said.  "Her House and Senate experience, her
knowledge of women's issues and her expertise in public interest
law will serve the agency well." 
     From 1984 to 1985, Thompson served as counsel, political
action committee director and assistant to the president for the
National Organization for Women.  She was a field organizer for the
presidential campaign of Walter Mondale in early 1984.  
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                                      Page 2, P94-5, Thompson
     Thompson was a partner in the law firm of Rogers, Joseph,
O'Donnell & Quinn in San Francisco from 1981 to 1983, and an 
associate with the law firm of Pettit & Martin in San Francisco
from 1976 to 1980.  She is a member of the California bar.
     Thompson is a graduate of the National Law Center of George
Washington University in Washington, D.C.  She has a bachelor's
degree in political science from Vassar College.
     FDA is one of eight Public Health Service agencies within
HHS.
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