Appointment of Michael J. Astrue as Associate Counsel to the President

The President today announced the appointment of Michael J. Astrue to be Associate Counsel to the President. He will succeed Peter D. Keisler.

From 1985 to 1988, Mr. Astrue served in the Department of Health and Human Services as counselor to the Commissioner of Social Security; legal counsel to the Deputy Commissioner for Programs, Social Security Administration; and Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Human Services Legislation. In addition, he was an associate with the law firm of Ropes and Gray in Boston (1984-1985) and a law clerk to the Honorable Walter J. Skinner, U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Massachusetts (1983-1984).

Mr. Astrue graduated from Yale University (B.A., 1978) and Harvard Law School (J.D., 1983). He was born October 1, 1956, in Fort Dix, NJ. Mr. Astrue is married, has one child, and is a resident of Belmont, MA.