SAAS Flash - 6/22/10

Senate Confirms New ONDCP Deputy Directors

Benjamin B. Tucker Confirmed as ONDCP Deputy Director of State, Local and Tribal Affairs; Brings 40 Years' Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Experience to Drug Policy Office

(Washington, D.C.) - On June 22 the U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination of Benjamin B. Tucker by unanimous consent to be the new Deputy Director of State, Local and Tribal Affairs for the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). Mr. Tucker will oversee ONDCP's High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program (HIDTA), Drug-Free Communities (DFC), National Youth-Anti-Drug Media Campaign, and Counter-Drug Technology Assessment Center (CTAC).

"I am pleased with the confirmation of Benjamin B. Tucker," says Director Kerlikowske "He embodies the Obama Administration's commitment to a comprehensive and balanced National Drug Control Strategy that recognizes addiction as treatable disease, emphasizes prevention and facilitates coordination with law enforcement. Mr. Tucker knows first hand that this country needs to be smarter when developing solutions to our Nation's drug problem. His perspective will aid us in addressing the problem as both a public safety and a public health issue."

Mr. Tucker brings 40 years of broad experience in both law enforcement and criminal justice from New York City and Washington D.C. Beginning as Deputy Director of New York's Law Enforcement Services Center, he went on to serve as a senior research associate at NYU's Wagner School of Public Service, as Deputy Director for the Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing, and later as chief executive for New York City's Department of Education. As Chief Executive, Mr. Tucker directed all matters related to the safety and security of 1.1 million school children and 1200 schools, as well as managing day-to-day administration and operations. Under his leadership, the Department of Education constructed the Office of School Safety and Planning, where all facets of school security were coordinated in conjunction with the New York City's Police Department.

Mr. Tucker studied Criminal Justice at John Jay College in New York, NY and earned his J.D. in 1981 from Fordham University's School of Law. He then spent two years as a legal advisor to the Deputy Commissioner of New York.
Tucker's field experience, coupled with his wide-ranging management knowledge, will help ONDCP achieve higher levels of innovation, effectiveness, and impact.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY

David K. Mineta Confirmed as ONDCP Deputy Director of Demand Reduction

(Washington, D.C.) - On June 22, David K. Mineta was unanimously confirmed as Deputy Director of Demand Reduction for the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). In this role, Mr. Mineta will oversee ONDCP's Office of Demand Reduction, which focuses on promoting drug prevention and drug treatment programs, as well as the agency's newly created focus on programs for individuals in recovery from addiction.

Mr. Mineta brings nearly 20 years of broad, nationally-recognized experience in the design and delivery of effective demand reduction programs. He specializes in working with community-based organizations to reduce demand for substances of abuse, particularly among underserved ethnic, racial and gender communities. Since 1991, he has secured $18,750,000 worth of funding from Federal, state, local government, and private grants.

As a former deputy director, researcher, manager and counselor, Mr. Mineta is poised to take on the challenge of coordinating ONDCP's programmatic functions.
"I welcome with great pleasure David Mineta as Deputy Director," said Director Kerlikowske. "His appointment underscores this Administration's and this Agency's recognition of the essential role local communities have to play in preventing and treatment drug use, as well as in promoting recovery."

Since 1996, Mr. Mineta has worked with Asian American Recovery Services (AARS) throughout California. He started as a manager of treatment and competence transitions programs, but rose quickly to associate director and, since 2007, deputy director. As deputy director, he oversaw all agency grant writing and institutional technology departments, and assisted in strategic planning, community consortiums, and other necessary functions. Before joining AARS, Mr. Mineta was a counselor in San Jose's School District and later in Santa Clara's Alcohol and Drug Department.

Mr. Mineta studied Political Science at University of California, Berkeley and earned his Masters of Social Work from California State University, San Jose in 1990.  In May 2009, he was appointed to the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention National Advisory Council.

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY
Washington, DC 20503