Acquisition community applauds Rung's new role

Anne Rung, GSA's current chief acquisition officer, will do double duty as she adds the title of associate administrator for the Office of Governmentwide Policy at the agency. It's a move that seems to please many in the acquisition community, who praise Rung's tried-and-true management capabilities.

"Rung is a good choice," said Jaime Gracia, president and chief executive officer at Seville Government Consulting. "She brings business savvy. She's a very good government leader in the mold of [Assistant Commissioner of the General Services Administration's Federal Acquisition Service] Mary Davie."

"She has good experience," agreed Stan Soloway, president and chief executive officer of the Professional Services Council. "She has a big portfolio to deal with, but she's well-equipped to handle it."

Acting Administrator Dan Tangherlini announced his appointment of Rung to the new position on June 13 in all-staff email. She replaces Kathleen Turco, who will become chief financial officer at the Veterans Health Administration, within the Veterans Affairs department, on June 16.

"Anne has been a vital part of our agency since April of last year, serving as our chief acquisition officer and a senior adviser to me on a number of issues," said Tangherlini in the email. "She brings extensive experience in public service at both the state and federal level."

Rung, said Tangherlini, brings a wealth of administrative experience to her new duties. She served as senior director of administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce, leading and implementing several management initiatives, including acquisition reform. She won FCW's Federal 100 award in 2012 for some of her work at Commerce.

Before that, she served as Deputy Secretary for Administration and Procurement for the Pennsylvania Department of General Services (DGS), leading four state-wide operations with 77,000 employees and a $4 billion procurement program. Tangherlini credited her work at GSA with streamlining and improving the acquisition process.

He also acknowledged departed associate administrator of OGP, Kathleen Turco's contributions, saying in her past 11 years at the agency, she had served not only OGP, but as chief financial officer.

"All of us at GSA wish her the best of luck in her new position as the chief financial officer for the Veterans Health Administration at the Department of Veterans Affairs and thank her for her many years of dedication and service."