Nancy V. Russell has been named Counsel to the Labor Member of the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), Walter A. Barrows. The appointment is effective upon the January 2013 retirement of Thomas W. Sadler, who has worked for the Labor Member's office since 2003.

In her new position, Ms. Russell will provide legal advice and analysis for the Office of the Labor Member in several areas, including appeals of agency decisions, ethics, legislation and regulations.

Prior to her appointment, Ms. Russell had been an attorney in the agency's Office of General Counsel since 1999. As one of the senior attorneys on the legal staff, she handled a variety of complex assignments. For much of that time she served as one of the agency's designated ethics officers, helping to ensure that agency employees comply with all relevant requirements in the conduct of their duties and agency business. Ms. Russell is also a trained mediator, having completed a 40-hour training program through the Center for Conflict Resolution in Chicago.

In 2011, Ms. Russell was honored as the RRB's outstanding supervisory/professional employee as part of the agency's Award for Excellence program that recognizes exceptional contributions and performance by employees in support of its mission and customers.

Previously, she worked for 8 years as a hearings officer in the Bureau of Hearings and Appeals, handling petitions for review of agency decisions by applicants and recipients of railroad retirement benefits. An RRB employee since 1982, she also spent about 9 years in various program analysis and management positions, with an emphasis on survivor benefits and automation initiatives.

A graduate of Loyola University (B.S. 1982, J.D. 1990), Ms. Russell is a native and current resident of Chicago.

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An independent Federal agency headquartered in Chicago, the RRB administers the over $11.3 billion-a-year benefit programs provided under the Federal Railroad Retirement and Unemployment Insurance Acts covering the nation's railroad workers and their families.