Secretary of Labor announces new members of Whistleblower Protection Advisory Committee
2 new members, 13 re-appointmented to WPAC
By Meghan Smith
Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez announced the appointment of two new members and the re-appointment of 13 members of the Whistleblower Protection Advisory Committee. WPAC advises, consults with and makes recommendations to the secretary of labor and the assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health on ways to improve the fairness, efficiency, effectiveness and transparency of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s whistleblower protection programs.
The 12 voting and three ex officio members of the WPAC were appointed by Secretary Perez. The committee’s membership will be staggered, beginning this year. Therefore, some members will serve two-year terms and some will serve one-year terms. The new committee will become effective Dec. 1, 2014.
Three members represent the public:
- Jonathan Brock, retired associate professor, Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs, University of Washington; and chairman, Hanford Concerns Council (one-year term)
- Richard Moberly, associate dean, University of Nebraska (two-year term)
- Emily Spieler, Edwin W. Hadley professor of law, Northeastern School of Law (chairperson) (two-year term)
- David Eherts, vice president global EHS, Actavis Pharmaceuticals (two-year term)
- Gregory Keating, shareholder, co-chair of the whistleblowing practice group and member of the board of directors, Littler Mendelson P.C. (two-year term)
- Marcía Narine, professor, St. Thomas University School of Law; and compliance consultant, MDO Partners (one-year term)
- Kenneth Wengert, C.S.P., A.R.M., director of safety, environment and business continuity planning, Kraft Foods (one-year term)
- Ava Barbour, associate general counsel, International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (one-year term)
- Eric Frumin, health and safety director, Change to Win (two-year term)
- Nancy Lessin, program director, United Steelworkers’ Tony Mazzocchi Center for Health, Safety and Environmental Education (one-year term)
- Jennifer Rosenbaum, founding legal and policy director, New Orleans Workers’ Center for Racial Justice National Guestworker Alliance (new member; two-year term)
- Christine Dougherty, discrimination investigator, Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry (one-year term)
- Rina Tucker Harris, enforcement attorney, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (two-year term)
- Adam Miles, deputy special counsel, policy and congressional affairs, U.S. Office of Special Counsel (two-year term)
- Robert W. Miller, office director, FMCSA Office of Policy, Strategic Planning & Regulations, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (new member; two-year term)
About the Author
Meghan Smith is the OSHA Directorate of Whistleblower Protection Programs.