Acting assistant secretary of labor named after agency director resigns

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration underwent a change in leadership after Assistant Secretary of Labor Edwin G. Foulke Jr. resigned in early November.

Thomas M. Stohler, deputy assistant secretary for OSHA at the U.S. Department of Labor since May 2008, was named acting assistant secretary of labor for the agency. Working with Foulke and the senior leadership of the DOL, OSHA officials said he developed and implemented the policy goals and objectives of the administration. Stohler also oversaw the regulatory, compliance assistance, OSHA state plan oversight, emergency response, training, administrative, and information technology functions at the agency.

Prior to working for OSHA, Stohler was a senior legislative officer for the Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs at the DOL. In this capacity, he served as the principle House and Senate liaison for OSHA and the Mine Safety and Health Administration. He has also worked in the student lending industry and spent 10 years working for high-tech and construction trade associations.

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Despite Stohler's appointment, health and safety experts believe President-elect Barack Obama will make several leadership changes to the DOL when he takes office in January.

December 1, 2008

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