Chief architect named

Office of Management and Budget officials moved today to officially name Richard Burk as the new chief architect. The Department of Housing and Urban Development's chief architect will begin his OMB duties Dec. 13, according to OMB officials.

The announcement comes just days after Congress removed House language recommending the position be eliminated from a fiscal 2005 spending bill.

The position of chief architect has been vacant since Bob Haycock stepped down in April. Richard Brozen, an employee on loan from NASA, served as de facto architect until he returned to his home agency last month. Following Brozen's departure, Karen Evans, OMB administrator for e-government and information technology, assumed chief architect duties.

Burk's 29-year career at HUD headquarters spans the research, demonstration and management of many federal activities in the fields of community development and housing rehabilitation. Burk earned a master's degree in public administration from Ohio State University. He worked at the Columbus, Ohio, Finance Department before joining HUD. Prior to graduate school, he served for two years as a Peace Corps health volunteer in Uganda.