FEC names new staff director

On July 10, 2006, Patrina M. Clark began her tenure as Staff Director of the Federal Election Commission, succeeding Acting Staff Director Robert Costa. In her new position, Ms. Clark is responsible for managing the overall operation of the Commission.

Prior to her appointment, Ms. Clark served as Regional Executive Director for Naval District Washington. As the senior civilian official in the region, she managed the Human Resources, Information Technology, Comptroller and Public Affairs offices, among other activities. Before her service with the Department of the Navy, she held a number of key positions with the Internal Revenue Service, most recently as Director, Cooperative Efforts and Strategic Support.

A Texas native, Ms. Clark began her undergraduate studies at the University of Texas as a National Merit Scholar and University of Texas Presidential Scholar. She completed her undergraduate studies at Thomas Edison State College with an emphasis in Communications and Human Resources Management. Ms. Clark has a graduate certificate from the Cornell University School of Industrial Labor Relations in Human Resources Management and a Master's Certificate in Project Management from George Washington University (GWU). She was awarded a joint certificate in Advanced Public Policy Leadership from the Brookings Institution and GWU, and is a graduate of GWU's Senior Executive Development Program. She recently completed Georgetown University's Senior Executive Leadership Continuing Studies Certificate Program and is certified as a Senior Human Resources Professional by the Human Resources Certification Institute.