WASHINGTON – William Valdez, a former Daily Texan staffer, has been nominated by President Joe Biden to serve as Under Secretary for Management, Department of Homeland Security.

Valdez was one of nine individuals nominated to serve in key roles.

Valdez covered national politics while at The Texan and attended and reported for The Daily Texan from the 1980 Republican National Convention in Detroit. He was a reporter for the Austin American-Statesman from 1980-84.

The nine nominees are:

• William Valdez, Nominee for Under Secretary for Management, Department of Homeland Security
• Erik Hooks, Nominee for Deputy Administrator for Federal Emergency Management Agency
• Lisa Gomez, Nominee for Assistant Secretary for Employee Benefits Security, Department of Labor
• Adrienne Wojciechowski, Nominee for Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations, Department of Agriculture
• Mark Gitenstein, Nominee for Representative of the United States of America to the European Union, with rank and status of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
• Laura S. H. Holgate, Nominee for Representative of the United States of America to the Vienna Office of the United Nations, with the rank of Ambassador, and Representative of the United States of America to the International Atomic Energy Agency, with the Rank of Ambassador
• Patricia Mahoney, Nominee for Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Central African Republic
• Julissa Reynoso Pantaleon, Nominee for Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Spain and to the Principality of Andorra
• Peter Hendrick Vrooman, Nominee for Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Mozambique

William Valdez, Nominee for Under Secretary for Management, Department of Homeland Security

William J. Valdez is a former career member of the Senior Executive Service at the Department of Energy and past President of the Senior Executives Association.  He is currently the co-founder and Board President of the Alliance of Latinx Leadership & Policy, which supports a leadership pipeline for Latinx professionals who want to pursue a career in public service.  Valdez is a recognized thought leader in the management of government agencies and has worked for 27 years to improve the effectiveness of government, with a goal of providing maximum mission delivery on behalf of the U.S. taxpayer.  A current focus is using technology to improve human capital, procurement, and financial management processes to free up Federal employees from paperwork and focus on delivering mission.

Valdez was raised in an Air Force family and is the proud father of three extraordinary professional women, and is Papi to four grandchildren.  He and his wife Marlana Valdez live in Takoma Park, MD.  Valdez was the recipient of a 2007 Presidential Rank Award (Meritorious) and is an elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.