Attorney General Appoints Gary G. Grindler Chief of Staff

WASHINGTON – Attorney General Eric Holder announced today that he has appointed Gary G. Grindler to be chief of staff to the Attorney General, effective Jan. 17, 2011. Grindler will replace Kevin Ohlson, who will be resuming his career service with the department.

"Kevin Ohlson has been an extraordinary public servant through a long career at the department, and while I am sorry to lose him from my office, I am grateful for his tireless work leading my staff the past two years," Attorney General Eric Holder said. "As he has throughout his career, Gary Grindler showed remarkable leadership under difficult circumstances as Acting Deputy Attorney General over the past year, and I could not be more pleased that he has agreed to continue that service in this new role as my chief of staff. He will continue to be a key leader in our work to protect the American people, ensure the fairness and integrity of our financial markets, and invigorate the traditional missions of the department."

Grindler served as Acting Deputy Attorney General from Feb. 5, 2010, until today. He rejoined the department in 2009 as Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Division after previously serving in a number of roles, including as Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General and Counselor to the Attorney General, Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Division, and as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York and the Northern District of Georgia.

Ohlson has served as Chief of Staff and Counselor to the Attorney General since February 2009. He has previously served as the Director of the Executive Office for Immigration Review, chief of staff to the Deputy Attorney General, and Assistant U.S. Attorney. A former officer in the U.S. Army where he served as both a judge advocate and as a paratrooper, in 1990 he was awarded the Bronze Star for his service during the Persian Gulf War.