Statement by the Press Secretary: National Security Advisor Names Communications Advisor

National Security Advisor Dr. Condoleezza Rice announced today the appointment of Anna M. Perez as Deputy Assistant to the President and Counselor to the National Security Advisor for Communications, effective August 27, 2001.

Ms. Perez began her strategic communications career on Capitol Hill, serving as Assistant Press Secretary and Communications Director to U.S. Senator Slade Gorton in 1981 and as Press Secretary to U.S. Congressman John Miller in 1985. In 1989, Ms. Perez joined the administration of President George H. W. Bush as Press Secretary to Mrs. Barbara Bush (1989-1993) where, among other duties, she planned and managed media coverage of all White House State dinners.

In 1993, Ms. Perez moved to Los Angeles, California, to become head of Media Relations for Creative Artists Agency, Inc. (CAA). At CAA, she provided strategic and tactical communications counsel to senior management, and worked extensively with the firm's corporate clients. From 1995-1998, as Vice President, California Government Relations, at Walt Disney Co., Ms. Perez directed and implemented business relations with state, county and municipal governments as well as with industry and business advocacy groups.

Following a fellowship at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government, Ms. Perez was named General Manager of Corporate Communications and Programs for the Chevron Corporation (1998), where she directed and managed a range of functions for the global energy corporation including media relations, speechwriting, employee and stockholder communications, web-based communications, public relations, corporate advertising strategic research and corporate contributions.

Ms. Perez attended Hunter College in New York City. She is married to Theophilus Sims, they have three children.